Before the mobile technology, caseworkers had no access to email and were forced to drive back into the office to utilize a shared computer. Since many days are often spent waiting in courtrooms and pediatricians’ offices, sometimes caseworkers wouldn’t know about an appointment change until it was too late. When CIO for Our Kids, Pat Smith, followed the caseworkers to see how they managed their job, she found cars full of forms, folders and disposable cameras. In this Mobile Enterprise story, Smith said, “Caseworkers reminded me of insurance salesmen in the 1950s.”

As a result, Our Kids’ 250 caseworkers were equipped with lightweight, business-rugged Panasonic Toughbook W-series laptops and smartphones with cameras and GPS. Our Kids ensured that the notebooks and phones were very secure to protect children’s safety and privacy; they are all encrypted and can be remotely disabled. The Toughbook computers are equipped with Absolute Software’s Computrace LoJack, so they can be found if lost or stolen and data can be remotely deleted.

This solution, known as OK Connect, allows caseworkers 24/7 remote access to the Florida State Families Network and the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System. Every 30 days, pictures of the children are geo-tagged, time-stamped and remotely updated to the state’s system. The State of Florida is now able to ensure when and where the child was last seen.

Our Kids’ next goal is to begin the implementation of automated forms, such as home visit and judicial review forms, and inspire other agencies to take advantage of mobile technology. Since this test program was such a success, in July 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced that $6.3 million dollars will be spent to roll out the technology to other caseworkers throughout the state. 

According to Sal:
“The Toughbook F8 is one of the cooler notebooks to come out in a long time”

Let us know what you think of the Toughbook F8.