Jones has served in this role since 2017, spearheading the development of innovative and integrated technologies, like virtual reality training for caseworkers and caseworker candidates. Through use of the cutting-edge technology, caseworkers could be exposed to real-world child welfare situations without ever leaving the office. This allows the department to navigate not only steep training requirements for these positions, but also helps to gauge whether a candidate is cut out for the essential work. According to figures from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), this work helped the department reduce caseworker turnover by just under 18 percent.
“We discovered that about 40 percent of our staff turnover was due to either caseload- and/or paperwork-related issues,” Jones said during a webinar hosted by Government Technology. By digitizing processes, he explained, the agency was able to retain staff, cut down on time spent processing information, and maximize time with children and families who need it.
In an equally important undertaking, Jones and his team worked to streamline the background check process with a new portal. It is estimated that the new tool increased productivity by 27 percent. Similarly, the department stood up a portal to better connect foster parents and children through an easy-to-follow step-by-step process.
