Keeping track of the services received by the more than 500,000 children in America’s child welfare system is a daunting task. So too is the state-by-state assessment and evaluation process--the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs)--which is conducted by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Until recently, the data collection system had been paper-based, which made data analysis tedious, time-consuming, and difficult.
Under a contract with the Children’s Bureau, JBS International, Inc., an award-winning, women-owned business based in Bethesda, Maryland, converted the outmoded paper-based system to an automated, state-of-the-art data management system. The new automated system enables HHS reviewers working on site in each state to collect and upload raw review data instantly to a central server. Further, the system presents the data in user-friendly formats and generates automated reports that the Children’s Bureau uses to analyze the results.
For this work, JBS received an award from HHS’s Assistant Secretary, who noted the process that JBS developed “greatly improved the accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of the review information in all states.”
The new system greatly enhances the federal government’s ability to help states improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families in their child welfare programs. Analysis of the results provides an opportunity for states to improve the future outcomes of the children in their care and the services available to them and their families.
“Knowing that our work is improving the delivery of vital services to children in need is personally and professionally gratifying,” said Jerri Shaw, President of JBS. “As a company with expertise in social and health policy programs and the application of information technology, designing this system for the Children’s Bureau was a perfect fit.”
JBS’s new comprehensive information and learning system is Web-based and provides a single source for information on reviews and e-training as well as updates, tutorials, video, and information on the history and context of the CFSR process. The new web portal also enables participants to learn about and practice using the data management system before participating in a review. The password-protected portal was developed in collaboration with the Children’s Bureau and JBS’s child welfare, training, and curriculum professionals; information technology staff; and content editors.
Under a contract with the Children’s Bureau, JBS International, Inc., an award-winning, women-owned business based in Bethesda, Maryland, converted the outmoded paper-based system to an automated, state-of-the-art data management system. The new automated system enables HHS reviewers working on site in each state to collect and upload raw review data instantly to a central server. Further, the system presents the data in user-friendly formats and generates automated reports that the Children’s Bureau uses to analyze the results.
For this work, JBS received an award from HHS’s Assistant Secretary, who noted the process that JBS developed “greatly improved the accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of the review information in all states.”
The new system greatly enhances the federal government’s ability to help states improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families in their child welfare programs. Analysis of the results provides an opportunity for states to improve the future outcomes of the children in their care and the services available to them and their families.
“Knowing that our work is improving the delivery of vital services to children in need is personally and professionally gratifying,” said Jerri Shaw, President of JBS. “As a company with expertise in social and health policy programs and the application of information technology, designing this system for the Children’s Bureau was a perfect fit.”
JBS’s new comprehensive information and learning system is Web-based and provides a single source for information on reviews and e-training as well as updates, tutorials, video, and information on the history and context of the CFSR process. The new web portal also enables participants to learn about and practice using the data management system before participating in a review. The password-protected portal was developed in collaboration with the Children’s Bureau and JBS’s child welfare, training, and curriculum professionals; information technology staff; and content editors.
