Oklahoma Department of Human Services Recognized as a 2012 Computerworld Honors Laureate

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jun 1, 2012) - Information Builders, a leader in business intelligence (BI), information integrity, and integration solutions, today announced that Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) has been named a 2012 Computerworld Honors Laureate for its use of BI technology to help caseworkers provide better family services. OKDHS was honored in the "Human Services" category, which recognizes organizations for the innovative use of information technology to develop or deliver public programs that provide food and nutrition, child support, housing, transportation, mental health, or other social services to populations in need.

For example, caseworkers in the Oklahoma Child Support Services (OCSS) use Information Builders' WebFOCUS BI platform to keep track of thousands of child support cases and the necessary actions needed. The BI environment enables caseworkers to efficiently address compliance issues with performance standards that translate directly into getting more child support dollars into the hands of needy families to help them pay their bills, provide meals, and get better healthcare.

WebFOCUS helps caseworkers maintain a running history on each child support case and enables staff members to access data within a series of performance measures. Parameterized reports provide numerous views of the data, so the staff can adjust their activities to focus on cases that have the greatest need. Information can be trended and viewed in multiple formats allowing caseworkers to further analyze case information and identify priority work efforts.

Using virtualization technology, OKDHS's Data Services Division was able to build new environments to support the development lifecycles. Starting with more than a terabyte of data, five years of case information is now available to the new BI environment and child support case workers. Information that previously was manually accumulated and distributed is now extracted from the case system and loaded into the BI environment on a monthly basis.

During this process, OKDHS was able to upgrade older WebFOCUS environments into the new infrastructure to support its multiple divisions. Other state divisions that depend on WebFOCUS include the Office of Inspector General, Family Support Services, Children and Family Services Division, Field Operations, Disability Determination Services, Aging Services, Adult Protective Services, Child Care Licensing, and the Data Services Division. These organizations support popular programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, medical timeliness for Medicaid, and child care subsidies for clients raising children while working or attending school. Nearly 7,000 people at OKDHS use WebFOCUS, from directors and supervisors to contractors, caseworkers, and administrative support staff.

"Thanks to the dedication and insight of these state agencies, caseworkers have timely access to accurate information to help them manage their cases and efficiently address all compliance issues, so paperwork doesn't hold up the urgent needs of Oklahoma citizens," said Gerald D. Cohen, president and CEO of Information Builders. "Their efforts are a perfect fit for the Computerworld Honors Program, which recognizes organizations that use information technology to promote and advance the public welfare, benefit society, and change the world for the better."

About Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Established in 1936, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services offers public assistance programs, services, and resources to Oklahoma's most vulnerable residents. It is the third largest state agency in Oklahoma with an annual operating budget of $2.1 billion.

About the Computerworld Honors Program
Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, The Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation. Computerworld Honors is the longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to promote positive social, economic, and educational change. Additional information about the program and a global archive of past Laureate case studies, as well as oral histories of Leadership Award recipients, can be found at the Computerworld Honors website.

About Information Builders
Information Builders helps organizations transform data into business value. Our software solutions for business intelligence and analytics, integration, and data integrity empower people to make smarter decisions, strengthen customer relationships, and drive growth. Our dedication to customer success is unmatched in the industry. That's why tens of thousands of leading organizations rely on Information Builders to be their trusted partner. Founded in 1975, Information Builders is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices around the world, and remains one of the largest independent, privately held companies in the industry. Visit us at informationbuilders.com, follow us on Twitter at @infobldrs, like us on Facebook and visit our LinkedIn page.