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Arizona DCS Strategizes Tech Integration for Child Safety

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is committed to ensuring children thrive in safe family environments, free from abuse and neglect. To accomplish this, DCS partners with families, caregivers and the community to strengthen child safety and ensure permanency for all of Arizona's children through prevention, services and support.

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To achieve this mission, DCS has developed a strategic plan for fiscal year 2024 that focuses on building systems and structure to support its core objectives. A key priority of this strategic plan is the integration of technology and data, with the following objectives for the year:

• Enhancing the utilization of data and software within DCS's value-driven culture to promote accessibility, transparency and collaboration;
• Upskilling people within DCS business functions to create and use technology to add measurable value.

"In addressing the safety and well-being of children, technology plays an important role. We're working with Microsoft to replace outdated technology with modern cloud data platforms that gives us the right tools to foster transparency, accessibility and problem solving," said Frank Sweeney, CIO and assistant director of support services, Arizona DCS. "With data analytics and AI, we can provide real-time insights and improve access to services for our stakeholders."

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group, Sweeney also discussed:

• The alignment of DCS's strategic plan with technology initiatives;
• The importance of addressing skills gap for future readiness;
• The crucial role of cybersecurity in fighting cybercrime against children.

Sweeney's experience spans startups, large corporations and government organizations with an aim to push boundaries and foster growth. Prior to this role, he served as the CIO of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.