Over the past few years, Oklahoma Human Services has been on a path of transformation, driven by a commitment to modernize the agency through human-centered design and technology. To facilitate this transition into a new era, the agency established the Technology Business Management division, which serves as a vital link between the divisions who administer the agency’s services and the ever-increasing advancements in technology.

One of the agency's most remarkable success stories is the collaborative effort between Child Care Services and Technology Business Management, together with their external partner, GitWit. This partnership highlights the power of innovative thinking, patience, trust and teamwork in bringing hope to Oklahomans.

Portia King, the Product Owner, and who serves as a technology liaison between Child Care Services (CCS) and Technology Business Management, played a pivotal role in making this project a reality. When CCS received federal funding, they were determined to use human-centered design to create pathways that better served their customers.

It was during the brainstorming sessions that King recalled her personal experience as a mom struggling to find child care. Although she knew quality child care programs existed, the child care locator available at that time made it difficult to search for and review programs based on ratings. King saw an opportunity to improve this process and modernize the Oklahoma Human Services' Child Care Locator using human-centered design principles.

King and her supervisor, Director of Technology Business Management, Brendan Hope, knew they needed to work with a forward-thinking partner like GitWit to turn their vision into reality. Once they presented the project's idea and scope to GitWit, the innovation company wasted no time in gathering valuable input from parents, caregivers and child care programs. This extensive research and preparation allowed all teams involved to create an amazing, human-centered product.

Through the collaboration with GitWit, the project surpassed initial expectations. The new Child Care Locator not only offers a map feature for parents to search for providers by location, but it also serves as a comprehensive resource for both parents and caregivers. Now, customers can research child care providers in-depth, easily accessing information about any previous complaints and the provider's continuous efforts to improve their programs.

The impact of this project extends far beyond just the customers of Oklahoma Human Services. Child Care Providers have also benefited greatly, appreciating the additional support and resources to enhance their services. Furthermore, the agency as a whole has been positively affected by the spirit of teamwork and cooperation displayed throughout the project. It was a glimpse into the agency's commitment to collaborate with one another, striving each day to serve the people of Oklahoma with the utmost dedication.

King expressed her enthusiasm for the future, stating, "There's so much we can do as an agency, and even more so with our partners, when we trust each other and always keep the customers' best interests at heart." This sense of hope and purpose drives the Technology Business Management team, including King and Hope, to continue their efforts in supporting other divisions within the agency.

While acknowledging that adopting new technology can sometimes be challenging, Hope remains focused on providing the best possible customer service to all divisions. He firmly believes that if the technology they deliver slows down the divisions, they have failed in their mission. Hope and his team are committed to making every effort to ensure technology enhances efficiency and empowers the agency's personnel to serve the people of Oklahoma even more effectively.

The story of the Oklahoma Human Services Technology Business Management team serves as an inspiring reminder that collaboration and innovation can bring hope to even the most complex challenges. Their dedication to human-centered design and their pursuit of a better future for all Oklahomans has created a promising path forward. With continued determination and the spirit of unity, Oklahoma Human Services is undoubtedly on the road to a brighter, more hopeful future for the people we serve.

Interested in learning more about the new Child Care Locator? See it in action here:

Do you have a #HopeHeroes story you would like to share? Email it to HopeHeroes@okdhs.org.