Policy & Practice December 2017

With an approach that alignswith the newCCWIS regulations, other states arewatching Colorado and are likely to study its outcomes as they consider their own paths forward for systemmodernization.

management and governance of HHS IT projects, but also enables critical data integration for modular and agile deploy- ments. Big bang

modernize Trails in alignment with the recently published CCWIS regula- tions. CGI was selected to lead phase one of the project, modernizing the foundational intake and resource module, and has since continued its work—leveraging its ModernSI approach—for the additional child welfare modules that make up the Trails system modernization project. CGI’s ModernSI approach provides not only for effective program

approaches to modernizing

complex health and human services systems have historically been risky and costly propositions, and several years ago were declared a less- than-favorable approach by federal officials. Flexible, incremental

“Our solution is focused on pri- oritizing the needs of caseworkers, agency users, providers, and most important, the children and families of Colorado,” says Dave Delgado, Senior Vice-President, U.S. West Operations at CGI. “End users of Colorado’s Trails system can look forward to new tech- nology that will digitally transform the way they do business by eliminating duplicate data entry, providing simple navigation, granting access to mobile technology, and providing enhanced reporting. Most important, case- workers will have a tool that allows them to ensure the health and safety of Colorado’s children and respond quickly when emergencies arise.” Reflecting CGI’s experience on similar projects, the Trails solution also includes upgrades to the assess- ment/commitment, case and finance modules, and is leveraging existing technology investments, using industry- proven software and following agile processes to deliver modular function- ality throughout the project. With an approach that aligns with the new CCWIS regulations, other states are watching Colorado and are likely to study its outcomes as they consider their own paths forward for system modernization. But to the team supporting the project, Delgado says safeguarding the health and well-being of Colorado’s children and families takes on a personal dimension. “With a CGI workforce of nearly 300 living and working in Colorado, the services supported by Trails could well impact our own families, friends, neighbors, and communities,” he says. “We are proud to have been selected for a project so vital to the state of Colorado and the people it serves.”

approaches using modular compo-

nents instead have proven not only to reduce risk but are more adapt- able to change and can deliver earlier benefits. With deep exper-

tise in both child welfare programs and technology, CGI is in the midst of delivering a modern, best-fit integrated system for Colorado, using leading-edge project manage- ment and systems integration tools that include lean, phased implementation roadmaps that follow a modular vision. Today, the Colorado modernization project is rebuilding the Trails system using web and mobile technology through an innovative, agile approach that is unprecedented in the field, and caseworkers will begin to see improvements long before the project is fully complete in 2019. Already the system is providing greater efficien- cies in information sharing, allowing caseworkers to make faster, better- informed decisions. Modernization will also make the system mobile- friendly, with a new mobile platform that uses cameras and GPS location capabilities, as well as remote system integration and secure access manage- ment—allowing workers to document cases offline and synch to the Trails system at their convenience.

December 2017   Policy&Practice 25