This article is for the new Clarity interface. For the current interface article, please click this link. Screenshots and description will be updated as features are released.
Overview
Public Alerts provide a way to notify staff members of important information about a client by displaying an alert in the client's record.
Note: The ability to view alerts depends on the permissions within the staff member's access role.
Examples of situations in which Public Alerts can be helpful include:
- Locating clients to offer a service or referral ("Please have Jane Doe call our agency for rental assistance")
- Indicating that a housing opportunity is available for a client
- Language access and support by making sure other providers know the client's primary language ("Client speaks Spanish as primary language")
- The client has lost an item, or an item belonging to the client has been found.
Creating and Managing Public Alerts
In the client record on the left sidebar, users can click on "Bell" icon with the label “Alerts.” On the Public Alerts page, end users click on the “Add” icon to create a new Public Alert.
When the end user clicks on the “Add” Icon, the “Add Alert” pop-up appears on the right side of the screen.
If the end user wants to manage an existing Public Alert, they can click on the alert to open it and then click the edit pencil.
Depending on the end user’s access, they will be able to view details, edit details, or delete the public alert here.
Column Selector
The Public Alerts page has a column selector available so that each user can customize their view.
Clicking on the column selector shows the end user the fields that are currently selected, the fields available to select, and a section to add fields that will collapse on the screen. The Alert Name, Alert Initials, and Agency Name cannot be removed.
Clicking a checkbox next to an Available Field will add the field to the Collapsed Fields section. The user can then drag the field to the Visible Fields section to show it on the screen. Users can also drag a Visible Field to the Collapsed Field section. If a field is removed from Visible Fields or Collapsed Fields, it will not be available on the screen or in the column selector, the next time the end user accesses the screen.
Note: the end user can use a different browser to see the default view.
Public Alerts on the Client Profile
For clients who have a public alert, a warning will be visible on the top right of the client record's information bar for users with the appropriate access to view public alerts. There is a count badge to indicate the number of alerts for the client.
When a user with the appropriate permissions to view alerts clicks on the Public Alert button, the user is taken to the Alerts tab.
If a user hovers over the alert, a list of alerts for the client will be displayed.
Users can click the drop-down arrow to see additional information about a specific alert.
Updated: 08/11/2025