From Spreadsheets to Strategy: Joel Streamlines Applications with Innovation and Heart​ 

Congratulations to Bright Spots winner Joel Lopez of Martha’s Table! 

Identifying the Challenge 

When Joel joined the team at Martha’s Table in Washington D.C. as the admissions and outreach coordinator, the program managed its online application process through a patchwork of Google Forms and Google Sheets.  

It got the job done — but barely. Theresa Cunningham, Joel’s co-worker, described this manual process as error-prone and far from efficient.​ 

Joel saw an opportunity.​ 

Improving the Application Process  

After carefully analyzing the existing workflow, Joel proposed a solution: transitioning to the ChildPlus Family Pre-Application. But he didn’t just suggest it — he implemented it! Joel completed  trainings, explored the platform’s capabilities and led his team to work smarter, not harder.

He led the shift from inefficient spreadsheets to a far more streamlined, sustainable system — the ChildPlus Family Pre-Application.​ 

As a result of Joel’s initiative, his agency has seen a major reduction in manual data entry and human error. Families now enjoy a smoother, more intuitive application experience  and staff have more time to focus on what really matters — the kiddos!​ 

Keeping Track of Applicant Statuses, Documents and Outreach 

But Joel didn’t stop at streamlining applications.​ 

He harnessed the ChildPlus LiveMessage feature to communicate with families in real time and set up automated emails to guide them through eligibility steps. He incorporated application-status tracking that shows exactly where each applicant stands — no more second-guessing or chasing lost contacts!

One of Joel’s most impactful improvements was spearheading the use of secure document uploads. By implementing the individualized upload links in ChildPlus, he made it possible for families to safely send sensitive eligibility documents directly into our system, saving time and safeguarding privacy.​ 

And because Joel understands the importance of smart outreach, he also put ChildPlus referral tracking to work. Now staff know how families are discovering their program and can double down on what’s working.​ 

Thank you, Joel, for helping your agency make the best use of ChildPlus to serve your agency and families!  

Want to be part of the future of Childplus? Our two-way communication feature is one of many exciting things on the horizon! If your agency is interested in getting early access to the two-way communication feature, let us know by filling out  this form. We’re excited to bring more of you into the loop soon!