COVID-19 was the impetus for the public sector’s move to virtual meetings and collaboration tools. But rather than being a temporary fix, these technologies have more than proven their worth. Employees gained back time by not having to travel to in-person meetings. Constituents could better weave appointments like social worker visits into their lives. Residents were able to engage with their governments through online public meetings. H...

During the pandemic, many social services programs were forced to modernize to get assistance to those in need faster. While these efforts brought short-term success, they also demonstrated the importance of phased approaches to longer term transformation. Instead of embarking on a multi-year, complex and monolithic effort, agencies can take a new, modular approach to social services modernization to automate everything from eligibility to pay...

State and local health agencies are at an important crossroads. They’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, with surging caseloads and skyrocketing requests for information and services. Meanwhile, they’ve put in place new innovations and new technologies to deliver health care services – but scaling and managing those processes can be a challenge. Digital transformation efforts are impacting every facet of public health care. Fro...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many courts across the United States had to close their doors to the public. The Superior Court of California - San Joaquin County closed to the public from March 2020 to July 2021. During that time, the public had minimal outlets to ask questions, inquire about payment plans or contest tickets. To avoid further backlog and safely connect with constituents, the San Joaquin Superior Court launched an online traffic...

Each year, the Special Districts Program recognizes innovative leaders and programs from around the country. For 2021, the year-in-review and recognition summit is going virtual – giving you a chance to virtual connect with and be inspired by leaders from around the country. Most importantly, it will provide an opportunity for you to learn how to replicate their successes in your own district. More information about speakers and specific...

Health and human services agencies have a big responsibility to serve some of our most at-risk constituents. During the pandemic, this task became even more complex as the number of individuals relying on government services surged, further straining available resources. It’s never been more important for these organizations to find ways to bring efficiencies to their operations. On Oct. 26 at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern, join Government Te...

Critical areas such as permitting and licensing, benefits qualification and accounts payable are undergoing modernization throughout agencies in the Commonwealth, turning manual processes into digital, contactless transactions and bringing countless efficiencies to constituents and those who serve them. On Oct. 20, we are inviting you to join us for a deep dive into some of these transformation journeys where you can learn practical ways to go...

Legacy systems – some decades old – have long been a challenge for state and local health and human services agencies (HHS). COVID-19 put a dramatic spotlight on the issue: outdated technology couldn’t keep pace with overwhelming demand for social safety net services, failing both citizens and agency staff when they needed help most. As a result of the pandemic, agencies adopted new cloud-based technologies like video collabo...

Over the past year and a half, the pandemic made it painfully clear that inequalities for women and communities of color must be addressed in every industry. Although technology and government aren’t the only sectors that need to revise the systemic barriers holding these workers back, the problem is apparent to all. One stark example: Women remain woefully underrepresented in the technology industry. Despite making up about half of the...

Constituents trust their local governments to provide services that are responsive to their individual needs. Now, more than ever, constituents expect their government services to evolve and change - just like how their own lives have evolved and changed. This is especially true as governments embrace flexible working policies and remote work arrangements for their employees - and, in the process, innovate on traditional, in-person services. B...