We’re excited to show you even more ways SAM helps your team move away from piles of paperwork and into a more streamlined, digital workflow.

With Documents, you can upload, store, share, and quickly access files right from the client record — no more searching through folders or email threads. Checklists allow you to track required steps, monitor progress, and keep important milestones front and center — including Documents! You’ll always know what’s complete, what’s missing, and what needs attention next.

Documents

Documents in SAM are your go-to hub for storing and managing electronic paperwork. Every file uploaded from Forms or Checklists lives here — neatly connected to the right client record. 

You'll find a Documents link on the Cover Page of all client records.

Click here for a complete guide to managing documents.

To Get Started

1. Make a simple list of required documents
   For each main entity (Families, Children, Foster Families, Birth Parents, etc.), write down the documents your program requires. This can just be a basic electronic list (like a Word or Google document).

2. Add those documents into SAM
   Go to Settings > Lists and enter required documents into the main entity's Document Type List.

Check out our tutorial for setting up documents in SAM. 

Checklists

Checklists help you stay on top of required steps, track progress, and keep key milestones clearly in view — including important documents. They simplify complex processes by breaking them into manageable, actionable steps.

With Checklists, you can:

• Monitor due dates and capture completion dates of your program's steps
• Assign tasks to team members or end users, such as families
• Link required documents directly to checklist items and securely share them with clients for seamless coordination

It’s an easy way to bring structure, clarity, and accountability to every stage of your workflow.

Prefer to read? Visit our guide for an overview of Checklists. 

First things first! ☝️

Checklists are not set up by default, so your SAM Leads will need to configure them to match your team’s specific process. Before diving in, take a little time to plan — a clear outline upfront will make setup faster, smoother, and far less overwhelming.

1: Map out your process (outside of SAM).
Write down the steps you already follow in real life. Think through what happens first, what comes next, and who is responsible at each stage. Don’t worry about making it perfect — just get your workflow on paper.

Clarity First: Outline Your Program

2: Gather your documents.
Collect electronic copies (Word, PDF, etc.) of the forms and documents you share with clients. Having these ready will make it simple to upload them into SAM and connect them to your checklists.

A little preparation upfront makes configuring SAM smoother, faster, and far less overwhelming.

Documents and Checklists keep everything organized, visible, and connected — so your team can maintain its focus on social work, not paperwork.