Frank Sweeney
Chief Information Officer at Arizona Department of Child Safety
Technology has the power to innovate, but what isn’t talked about as much is its power to affect real change. That is exactly what the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is hoping to convey via its overall digital strategy as a department.
DCS provides services and resources to strengthen families and ensure the safety and well-being of children. Part of its transformation can be attributed to the way the department has leveraged technology to improve outcomes for children and families across the state.
Frank Sweeney, the department’s CIO, explains how the organisation is using technology and AI to transform child welfare services and improve overall outcomes for families across Arizona.
“We’re responsible for implementing IT solutions that support the department’s mission, whether that’s by ensuring our systems are secure, streamlining case management, or using data to make more informed decisions,” Frank explains.
“It’s not just about the tech—it’s about finding solutions that help our frontline staff do their jobs better and give families the support they need.”
Making technology the focus
During Frank’s tenure with DCS, he has seen technology take a much more central role in how the department operates.
“When I first started, technology was more of a back-office function,” he says. “Now, it’s integral to everything we do. From improving data sharing across agencies to enabling remote work and telecommunication, we’ve embraced tech as a key driver of efficiency and better outcomes.”
One of the largest shifts for DCS is how they have been using data to support decision-making. Significantly, the department has moved from siloed data systems to a much more integrated approach, meaning caseworkers have real-time insights to make faster and better decisions for families.
“The introduction of cloud technologies and the push toward automation has been a game changer for us too, helping streamline operations and allowing our teams to focus more on supporting families,” Frank adds.
Adopting a data-driven approach
DCS sees technology developments as having improved services and safety for children within the state of Arizona. The department’s caseworkers now have improved access to real-time data, which subsequently enables them to make decisions that are more informed and faster–which is essential, given the nature of their work.
“Technology has fundamentally changed how we approach child safety,” Frank notes. “By streamlining communication and providing secure access to case information from anywhere, we’ve made it easier for staff to collaborate across agencies, leading to better outcomes for the children and families we serve.”
Moving towards a more data-driven approach has been essential, with DCS being able to use strategies like predictive analytics to help better understand the needs of children and families and match them with the service most appropriate for them.
“The use of data has also helped us identify patterns of risk earlier, which means we can intervene sooner,” Frank explains. “This allows us to follow up more efficiently and keep families engaged, especially in rural or harder-to-reach areas.”
Automating workflows to enhance processes
DCS’ partnership with leading technology company IBM has been an integral part of the department’s digital transformation strategy. With all its technology prowess, the company has been able to help DCS advance its technology infrastructure by providing digital solutions.
“They have also helped us rethink how we use data and systems to improve outcomes for the children and families we serve,” Frank says. “It’s not just a vendor relationship—it’s a collaboration that has allowed us to drive meaningful changes in how we operate.”
IBM’s technology has been invaluable to DCS in several ways, including its help with data analytics. As Frank explains, tools from IBM have successfully enabled the department to integrate data from multiple sources and turn it into actionable insights.
“IBM’s technology consulting practices have helped us scale and develop our comprehensive child welfare information systems, making them more flexible and secure,” Frank explains. “With IBM’s support, we’ve been able to automate workflows and improve the efficiency of our operations while ensuring that data security and privacy remain a top priority.”
Looking ahead, DCS is eager to continue to enhance its data integration efforts in its work across Arizona. Its top priorities remain ensuring that its caseworkers and decision-makers are able to access real-time, comprehensive data across all systems.
“Ultimately, it’s about making sure that every investment we make in technology is driving us closer to our mission of protecting children and supporting families in the best way possible.”
To read the full story in the magazine click HERE
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