DHS caseworkers get high tech upgrade
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
The University of Pennsylvania's Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research announced a new partnership today. The "Information Portability Project" is a collaboration with Montgomery County and business and advocacy groups. It's designed to protect children and Department of Human Services workers.
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When they head out to visit children in their homes, Montgomery County caseworkers will carry specially designed, hand-held devices about twice the size of a PDA. They'll be able to use the units to access files, take photos and videos, and immediately share information about abused and neglected children with their supervisors.
Joseph Roynan is the Human Services Director for Montgomery County. He says the devices will make caseworkers more effective and safer.
Roynan: We send our caseworkers into crack houses, meth labs, and shooting galleries. With this portable device they will be able to access prior police reports, they'll be able to notify support services instantly of their impending visit, a GPS locator will know where they are, they'll be in constant contact with their Office.
Roynan hopes to have portable devices for county caseworkers by next summer.