Oracle Corporation has announced that three states Michigan, Virginia and Ohio are implementing Oracle systems that will improve program effectiveness for a variety of government social services. Such improvements will have a direct impact on a risk children in these three states. Oracle has developed a record of commitment and success within the Health and Social Services sector, and these new customers represent a growing trend of social service agencies choosing an Oracle solution. Oracle provides technology that supports social services` mission critical needs, from data warehousing to development tools to financial applications, with a thin client, Web enabled Networking Computing Architecture(NCA) that allows agencies to effectively manage large volumes of information, process payments, conduct research, and achieve year 2000 compliance. Automating social service systems enables agencies to better supervise tasks such as child welfare, child - care, child support enforcement, job placement, and child and adult protection. Michigan The Michigan Family Independence Agency, formerly the state`s Department of Social Services, will use the Oracle8 database server, Oracle Parallel Server, and Oracle Transparent Gateway as it builds a new Services Worker Support System (SWSS). SWSS is a comprehensive system designed to support caseworkers as they manage the business processes of children`s protective services, foster care, adoption and delinquency programs as well as adult protective services, foster care and home-help programs. This system will allow robust state -wide tracking on a country-by-country basis. Oracle Parallel Server will enable SWSS to conduct round the clock service. Oracle Transparent Gateway also will port information into the state - wide data warehouse, allowing Michigan State agencies the ability to share information on an as needed basis. "Oracle provides the Family Independence agency with a comprehensive approach to rapid application development, the flexibility needed for dynamic policy change, and the necessary connectivity to other components of technology," said Dawn Shattuck, chief information officer for the Family Independence Agency. Virginia Virginia will use the Oracle database server; Oracle Public Sector Financials; Oracle Workflow applications; and tools, including Developer/2000Designer/2000Oracle Discovererand Financial Analyser for its State-wide Automated Child Welfare System (SACWIS) and other social services programs. The agency plans to Web-enable its financial systems. "The accounting system now isn`t year 2000 compliant," said Bonita Turner, controller for the Virginia Department of Social Services. "We wanted to move into the age of the Web. We didn`t want to buy anything we thought would be outdated in two years." Oracle Workflow will enable the agency to move closer to a paperless environment, eliminating the need to send invoices throughout the state for employees who travel, as an example. And the production of federal reports, which has taken a week, now will be able to be done with the push of a button. "It`s extremely critical that we`re accurate and timely in reporting to the federal government. We`re looking toward the Web and increased productivity," Turner said. Ohio Ohio will turn to the Oracle database server to improve its SACWIS by tracking state hearings and serving as a project management repository. "The database we`re currently using is difficult to use and maintain because it is older technology," said Greg Murphy, chief technical officer for the Ohio Department of Human Services. "Everything had to be custom written. But everyone writes for Oracle."
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