HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-21-1997 - 9a Orange County
Board of Commissioners
Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: May 21, 1997
Action Agenda
Item No. -q.0
Subject: Human Services Automation Position
Department: Human Services Departments Public Hearing: Yes No X
and Information Systems Budget Amendment
Needed: Yes No X
Attachment(s): Information Contact:
Marti Pryor-Cook, Human Services
Automation Committee Chair
Dick Taylor, Information Systems
Director
Telephone Number:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose: To consider increasing the hours of a vacant permanent part time (20
hour)Accounting Technician position to full time for the purpose of
realigning the position as a Human Services automation position.
Background: In 1992 the Human Services Management Team created a Human
Services Automation Committee to coordinate automation initiatives
among the eight human service departments (Aging, Cooperative
Extension, Health, Housing, Human Rights and Relations, Library,
Recreation and Parks, and Social Services). The Automation
Committee, which includes the Information Systems Director, assures
that:
• Human service projects and efforts are collaborative;
• Resources are shared among the departments;
• Priorities are set for development and enhancement of computer
applications; and
• Computer hardware and software purchases and the annual
Capital Improvement Program requests for human service
automation needs are reflective of the priorities.
At present one of the most important priorities for human services is
development of computer applications to support more efficient
delivery systems for human service programs. The human services
departments have collaborated to address this need. To this end, the
departments:
• Have identified the funds on a prorata basis from the current
budgets of the human service departments to fully fund a
permanent full time position of Systems Analyst.
• Have identified a vacant permanent part time position
Accounting Technician position in Social Services to provide half
of the required full time equivalent for the position.
• Are requesting Board of Commissioners' approval to increase
the hours of the Accounting Technician from 20 to 40 to provide
the remaining full time equivalent required for the full time
position.
The above accomplishes the addition of a permanent full time
Systems Analyst position for human service departments, without
additional resources.
The purpose of the Human Services automation position is to
coordinate and facilitate automation throughout the human service
departments. Under the direction of the Human Services Automation
Committee, the position will assess automation needs and systems;
select the best approaches to respond to the needs; design and
implement automated systems for human services departments and
assist the users.
Among other things, the position will be responsible for managing and
accomplishing the following initiatives:
• Design and implement a wide range of tracking systems to
automate various application, registration and monitoring
processes including such ones as the:
-Application process for public assistance, including integration
with social services programs;
-Registration process for recreation programs;
-Licensing and relicensng of foster homes;
-Tracking of child abuse and neglect referrals; and
-Tracking and accessing transportation routes and schedules.
3
• Assess the needs, identify and implement approaches to
integrate State and County data systems such as those for
Social Services, Health and Child Support Enforcement.
• Integrate or, as appropriate, convert various databases from the
mainframe to the desktop environment to provide for the use of
desk top automation tools with these data bases.
• Pursue the full and effective use of such automation tools
already available as electronic mail.
• Build appropriate information system interfaces with non-
departmental agencies to facilitate service delivery.
The Information Systems Department will continue to serve the
human services department in all areas of the information systems
needs, including providing direction to this position through the
Human Services Automation Committee. Beyond the immediate
resources proposed here, the Strategic Automation Plan will
address the longer term staffing needs for information systems in
the County.
Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board approve increasing the hours
of the vacant permanent part time 20 hour Accounting Technician
position to full time for the purpose of realigning the position as a
Human Services Systems Analyst.
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