Stewards of Change Publications and Learning Tools for Human Services Leaders
Stewards of Change believes that the ongoing exchange of ideas and information is the cornerstone of effective social change. Through its diverse array of articles, publications and other learning tools, SOC helps connect human service leaders with emerging innovations and promising solutions to make these new opportunities available to as many leaders and organizations as possible. All our publications are designed to engage and inspire a broad array of audiences -- from business leaders to policy makers to members of the public and the media. In addition, SOC has developed extensive original background materials for its national conferences, providing a comprehensive overview of where human services have been and where they are going.
News
SOC and ICFI awarded contract to work with HHS/Administration for Children and Families to introduce Human Services 2.0 – InterOptimability to federal agency
Stewards of Change in partnership with ICFI will introduce Human Services 2.0 – InterOptimability to the Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF).The primary objective of the Technical Assistance Project is to assist the administration in developing a cross-cutting leadership approach to support the effective administration of the ACF programs to achieve the best possible results for children, families and communities. Utilizing the tools and approaches from Human Services 2.0 – InterOptimability, we will help create a language and common vision among the senior leadership team of ACF. We will also work towards determining the level of effort required to create more interoperability within and across ACF.
Presentation at CWLA National Conference January 25, 2010
Creating Consumer-Centered, Family-Focused, Technology-Enabled Human Service Systems
Daniel Stein, Vernon Brown, and Kevin Dolan, Microsoft, recently presented at the 90th Annual CWLA National Conference held in Washington DC. The presentation provided an overview of the latest thinking about creating interated, consumer-centric human services systems that address the comprehensive needs of children, families, individuals, and communities. Drawing upon five years of learning, the session presented a theory of change that described an overall approach for achieving a vision of an integrated human services system incorporating human services, health and education. Case examples drawn from Stewards of Change's work with the Washington State Department of Early Learning, Montgomery County Maryland Department of Human Services, and Montgomery County Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services.
The Fifth Annual SOC National Conference, From Field to Fed: Building an Interoperable Continuum of Care.
January 4-6, 2010.
Stewards of Change held their fifth annual conference in January 2010 at Yale School of Management.
Information Portability in Child Welfare
Social Work Today September 7, 2009
The child welfare system may soon receive a big, and much-needed, shot of IT – with the potential to drastically improve both children’s and caseworkers’ safety.
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White Papers
From Urgency to Innovation
By William D. O'Leary, Executive Director, Microsoft & David Meyers, Sr. Architect, Microsoft
Improving Access, Outcomes and Efficiencies through Connected Health and Human Services.
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Case Studies
Allegheny County DHS: Extreme Makeover
After a tragic system failure, a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services decided a nip-tuck wouldn’t do. More than a decade later, the dramatic transformation to a fully integrated cross-agency system is complete, with organizational, technological and cultural lessons learned for all.
Read the synopsis
Read the full case study
Mecklenburg County Takes an Automation Journey
By Richard W. Jacobsen, Jr., Mecklenburg County Executive in Residence,
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Institute for Social Capital
Quality employee and customer experiences as well as smooth business operations are core to this North Carolina county’s new Integrated Social Services System.
SOA: Don’t Start From Scratch
By Rick Friedman, CMS/US DHHS
By leveraging Medicaid’s flexible IT architecture, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency discovered ways to share data across boundaries, setting an example for other behavioral health agencies.
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Thought Leader Perspectives
Child Welfare Needs a New Business Model
By Congressman Jim Cooper
It’s time to revamp the flawed architecture that has failed our at-risk children and families.
What We Don’t Know Harms Children
By Richard J. Gelles, PhD
System change on behalf of society’s most vulnerable children relies not on more workers or more training but on more timely and accurate information.
Child Welfare: Taking a Tech Lesson from the Aviation Industry
By Eileen Mayers Pasztor, DSW
Government and business must unite to develop interoperable systems and standards for children’s safety, just as they did for air passenger safety. Advocacy to secure political leadership and public will is key.
More thought leader perspectives >