A Day in the Life of the Technically Empowered Caseworker

1
A Day in the Life of the Technically Empowered
Caseworker

• Jason Wutt Program Analyst, Wisconsin DHFS
• Brenda Blanck Ongoing Social Worker, Dane
  County Human Services

2
Session Objectives

• Provide information about the Wisconsin child
  welfare mobile computing solution
• Provide information on ways the mobile computing
  solution frees social workers up from the
  confines of their offices
• Provide information on how mobile computing
  improves both accuracy of information and
  services to clients

3
Wisconsin SACWIS

• Background
• Fully web-based SACWIS deployed in June 2003
• Enabled mobile computing
• Open architecture
• Wisconsin interested in extending functionality
  out to the field
• 50/50 proof of conceptwith CGI

4
Wisconsin SACWIS

• Key Requirements Approach
• Minimize user training impact
• Initial functionality of Case Notes and Safety
  Assessments
• Deployed in 2 counties, August 2003
• Minimize maintenance, management cost
• Operate within the DHFS technical infrastructure
• Allow users to share devices
• Secure storage and transmission of data

5
eWiSACWIS Anywhere Desktop
6
Checking Out Cases
7
Cases After Checkout (Offline)
8
Cases After Checkout (online)
Visual indicator only, items not restricted
9
Handwriting Capability
10
Saved work is in Work Log
Easy access to completed work
11
Check in your work
12
Wisconsin SACWIS

• Ongoing Events
• Users utilized the pen-enabled case notes the
  most
• Giving demonstrations to other interested
  counties
• Expanded to more counties
• Over 100 Tablet PCs in Dane County, rolled out
  in phases
• Over 250 Tablet PCs in Milwaukee County, rolled
  out in phases starting August 2006
• Implemented a loaner program where counties are
  able to use a State tablet for one month
• Try before you buy

13
Wisconsin SACWIS

• Improvements Made
• One Step Upgrade
• Synchronization recovery
• Expanded functionality to include Assessments
• Enhanced the check in / check out process
• Future Plans / Possibilities
• New Pieces of Application Functionality
• Ongoing Plans
• Person Management
• MS Word templates
• Fingerprint Capture Digital Imaging

14
Wisconsin SACWIS

• Lessons Learned
• Phased-in approach was successful
• Since August 2003, no tablets reported lost or
  stolen
• Start with limited functionality and let users
  drive what pieces of work are implemented next
• Have the capacity to assist with technical issues
• Smaller counties may not have technical staff
  needed
• Be aware and publish device requirements
• MS Word is not part of most Tablet OEM software
  but is required for Spell Check functionality

15
Tablet Use in the Field

• Case Note documentation for out of office
  meetings
• Work while waiting for meetings and appointments
  out of office
• Cleaning up case notes
• Writing reports in MS Word
• Checking email and checking in/out additional
  work when wireless internet is available

16
Pros and Cons

• Saves time
• No dual-entry of case notes, increases accuracy
  of information being documented
• Case notes are all in one place
• Able to be productive in-between appointments
• Could save more time if
• Battery life was improved
• Handwriting recognition was less particular
• Technical support improved

17
More Pros and Cons

• Basic case information available when out of the
  office
• Although some users feel a computer is too
  impersonal when working with clients
• Access to e-mail and internet outside of office
  when wireless is available
• Flexibility with job hours
• Voice Recognition capabilities

18
Conclusion

• Wisconsin chose the Tablet PC for their mobile
  solution (also works on standard laptops but no
  handwriting recognition)
• Users are able to complete work near real-time
  out in the field, increasing productivity and
  accuracy of information while maintaining
  security of confidential information
• Questions?