Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) Receives CIO 100 Award

Mobile First Innovations Leverage Diona to Empower Caseworkers in the Field

IDG's CIO  today announced The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) as a recipient of the 2018 CIO 100 for implementing mobile technology innovations into its case management system using Diona solutions. The 31st annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT). DCS had been operating on a legacy Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) which limited caseworker efficiency and productivity in engaging with children and families. To extend the capabilities of the system, DCS implemented Diona Mobile Visits and Diona Mobile Investigations. Utilizing mobile devices, 1,400 DCS caseworkers can now receive and deliver real-time data—anywhere, anytime, whether online or offline—through a government-cloud-based, secure, scalable, and reliable platform without the need for paper files.

“We have been committed to making DCS a leader in technology,” said DCS Director Greg McKay. “This award highlights how Arizona is at the forefront of applying technology to improve the lives of our most vulnerable children and their families.”

 “Mobile First” Innovations to Better Serve Arizona’s Children

DCS took an innovative approach to digital transformation by deploying a modular, “mobile first” strategy to implementing the new Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) requirements. By enabling DCS caseworkers to adopt transformative mobile technology into their practice today, workers now can engage more productively with children and families in the field, paper-based processes are obsolete, and client data is stored securely and privately.

“DCS is now equipped to deliver more effectively on their mission to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency,” said Graham Stubbs, CEO, Diona. “Caseworkers can interact with children and families at deeper and more informed levels, spend less time on paperwork, and respond immediately to issues with accurate, up-to-date information.” Thanks to its innovative strategy, DCS is projected to save $18.7 million annually in departmental costs and has:

●     Boosted field access to its information system to 100 percent

●     Improved caseworker efficiency by 20 percent

●     Increased caseworker time spent with children and families

●     Enhanced service quality and case outcomes

●     Improved the quality of all data collected

“We did not want technology to become a barrier for child welfare,” said DCS Chief Information Officer Linda Jewell. “We wanted a technology that could transform how caseworkers operate in the field. We wanted them to devote more time addressing the needs of children and families, instead of filling out paperwork. That’s why we developed these innovative solutions for our frontline workers. And this award is a testament to all of our employees’ commitment to this transformation.”  

You can read the full story at: https://goo.gl/NV4UHQ