Main Version - DISCC Annual Report Draft 2024

FY24 DISCC Annual Report

September 2024

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Letter from the DISCC Executive Team

Dear partners, FY 2024 was an exceptional year in the first of this four-year program. We are pleased to provide an update on the significant progress made during this base year in establishing the foundation for CCDF DISCC (Data and Information System Consultation Center). We have achieved several key milestones that position us for continued growth and impact in the coming years:

• DISCC Establishment: We successfully launched DISCC, creating a consultation center to help improve experience for families and providers. We built a core infrastructure essential for our mission to support States, Territories, and tribes in their efforts to improve their IT and Data Systems. We also established a dedicated PMO to ensure efficient and effective project management across all DISCC initiatives. This program management structure enables us to deliver high-quality results on time and within budget.
• DISCC Website Launch: Our new website (insert website link) serves as a valuable resource for stakeholders, providing information on our programs, services, and technical assistance opportunities. It also facilitates communication and collaboration within the DISCC, the Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) and amongst Lead Agencies.
• IT Environment Scan: We designed and launched a comprehensive CCDF IT Environment Scan and Tribal Listening Sessions to assess the technology landscape across Lead Agencies. This analysis informs our technical assistance efforts, ensuring that we provide tailored support that meets the unique needs of each region.
• Technical Assistance Launch: We have begun providing universal and targeted technical assistance to Lead Agencies, offering guidance and support on a range of topics related to data and technology. This assistance is critical for helping our partners achieve their goals and improve outcomes for the providers, families, and children they serve.

These accomplishments represent a strong foundation for DISCC’s future growth and impact. We are confident that our continued efforts will lead to even greater success in the years to come.

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DISCC Mission and Vision Statement

Our Mission

Our Vision

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Program Objectives and Overview

The CCDF Data and Information System Consultation Center (DISCC) was established by OCC to improve the capacity of CCDF Lead Agencies as they develop or improve integration and the maturity level of their IT systems, with a focus on improvements in family and provider experience

Program Objectives

Improve Family and Provider Experience

Enable families to get accurate and timely information about providers --- Provide an optimized self-service experience through an easy seamless application and renewal process for families --- Drive low friction and low burden licensure process, payment process and state reporting system for providers ---- Improved IT systems for enrollment, eligibility, payments, education, workforce licensure and credentialing

Base Year

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Option Years 2/3

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Option Year 1

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Introducing the DISCC Team

Program Objectives

Dennis Otieno

RaymondPhillips

Daniel Santa

Keith Scott

Alejandro Mainetto

Jesse Farley

Donna Seymour

Krystal Robinson

Jackson Ratcliff

TonyTolliever

Kayla Cephas

Shannan Smith

Ryan Burger

Rashid Chapeyama

Meredith Russell

Erica Thunder

Yasmina Demaj

NitinMistry

Partha Mohapatra

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Services That We Provide

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Peer to Peer Learning Opportunities

Online Learning Opportunities

IT Strategic Roadmap Development and Implementation

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Data and IT System Consultation

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CCDF IT Environment Scan

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DISCC Base Year Accomplishments

Let's go!

Laying the Foundation for Success

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DISCC Website

• Launched DISCC Website in March 2024
• IT Resources Clearinghouse created
• 73 resources have been added since the launch
• Website accessed 1,681 times

• The website currently has a 66% engagement rate in the base year
• 531 Total Users

View Site

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The CCDF IT Environment Scan

• CCDF IT Environment Scan launched August 2024
• 140 people attended a webinar about the CCDF IT Environment Scan
• Initial webinar recording viewed 92 times as of 09/09/24
• Second webinar recording viewed 187 times as of 09/09/24
• DISCC will utilize results from the Scan to inform the delivery of relevant and timely TA on the topics most needed by Lead Agencies.
• The Scan will be updated following its initial release so that users can track progress toward their data and IT system goals over time.

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Technical Assistance

Welcome to DISCC Introduction to the CCDF Data & Information System Consultation Center (DISCC)

IT Fundamentals: IT Concepts

IT Matters: Peer Learning Sessions

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Our IT Strategic Framework – The Umbrella

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Technical Assistance Calendar

The DISCC Universal TA Calendar is a comprehensive, timeline designed to outline and inform all states and administration of the upcoming DISCC Technical Assistance (TA) events for the year. The calendar provides clear visibility into key dates and milestones, helping partners stay informed and prepared for each event.

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Our Technical Assistance Reach

Virtual Engagement

States - 49 Territories - 2 Tribal Nations - 109

Engaged with DISCC in the Base Year

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Partnerships and collaborations

Let's go!

Our Partners

The success of DISCC in this base year has been connected to the ability of KLSA to partner and collaborate with OCC, CCTAN, CGI and WRMA. It has proven to be an incredibly successful and enriching experience. By joining forces with like-minded organizations, we have amplified our impact, expanded our capabilities, and fostered an environment of shared learning and innovation. We look forward to continuing to build on these partnerships and exploring continued opportunities for collaboration within this program.

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DISCC Viewpoints

Let's go!

DISCC Viewpoints

The IT landscape is rapidly evolving, with several groundbreaking trends shaping all industries in 2024. The DISCC Center developed an IT Strategic Framework which consists of ten domains of focus. In this section, we provide a list of current and upcoming relevant trends in each of these ten domains from project management, to strategic planning, to user experience, to data and analytics, to AI, cybersecurity, and to IT transformation.

Resources on the effective use and design of user experience principles for IT systems.

Resources on documentation, collaboration, and guidance that supports effective and compliant use of IT systems.

Resources for engaging with internal IT communication efforts and for better communicating with families and partner organizations via websites, social media, and other methods of engagement.

Resources for long-term planning that documents the mission, vision, goals, best practices, and outcomes in a roadmap for an organization’s IT investments and priorities to align with child care program compliance.

IT Communication Management

IT Knowledge Management

IT User Experience

IT Strategic Planning

Resources and processes that support the effective project and program management, planning, delivery, and operation of data and IT systems.

IT Project Management

Use the to see the current trends and the to see what DISCC is doing in this area!

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DISCC Viewpoints

The IT landscape is rapidly evolving, with several groundbreaking trends shaping all industries in 2024. The DISCC Center developed an IT Strategic Framework which consists of ten domains of focus. In this section, we provide a list of current and upcoming relevant trends in each of these ten domains from project management, to strategic planning, to user experience, to data and analytics, to AI, cybersecurity, and to IT transformation.

Resources for assuring the privacy, confidentiality, and security of data, securing operations, maintaining compliance, and mitigating risk according to a cybersecurity assessment.

Resources for managing contracts and acquisition guidance to ensure that technology advances child care program goals and outcomes.

Resources for modernizing data and information systems through emerging technologies, digital platforms, quality assurance processes, and software and infrastructure innovation.

Resources and best practices enabling high-quality data collection, storage, and analysis to support program integrity through reporting, visualization, data governance, and data sharing.

IT Transformation

IT Sourcing and Procurement

IT Security and Risk

IT Data and Analytics

Resources for strategies and best practices for supporting staffing, resourcing, training, and retaining team members.

IT Workforce Management

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future outlook

Let's go!

What are we looking forward to?

In the upcoming year, we are excited to build on our successes and continue driving growth through innovation and collaboration. Key areas of focus include expanding our service offerings, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening partnerships to meet the evolving needs of our clients and stakeholders. With new initiatives on the horizon, we look forward to seizing opportunities that will further our mission and impact.

• Supporting CCDF Lead Agencies with the implementation of the 2024 CCDF Final Rule

• Providing ongoing universal and targeted assistance to CCDF Lead Agencies

• Developing and implementing IT Strategic Roadmaps with CCDF Lead Agencies

• Collaborating with Child Care Technical Assistance Network partners

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Thank You!

Start Over

Current Trends

• Organizations must align all technology initiatives to an overall strategic digital transformation roadmap to remain relevant and competitive.
• Automation is increasingly important for organizations to operate efficiently.
• Cloud adoption continues to be a key driver of IT transformation. Moving to development of cloud native systems should be the norm going forward.
• Organizations must embrace agile practices to support rapid and effective change.

DISCC held the IT Fundamentals: IT Concepts in May 2024.

• 70 users attended the event across 29 states and 2 territories
• Recording has been viewed 115 times as of 8/15/24

Our IT Strategic Framework is a set of ten domain areas that DISCC will use to reference across several core assets.

DISCC held the Welcome to DISCC Introduction to the CCDF Data & Information System Consultation Center (DISCC) in May 2024

• 190 users attended the event across 47 states and 2 territories
• Tribal Lead Agency staff accounted for 14% of attendees

Current Trends

• Omni-channel and unified communications across technology and business organizations are becoming the standard.

• AI-powered communications such as virtual assistants and chatbots will transform how we communicate amongst teams and with our customers. This will transform how we communicate and provide customer service.

• Enhanced and integrated use of collaboration tools, virtual events and social media for internal and external communications will be important.

DISCC held its first IT Matters: Peer Learning Session in July 2024

• There were 79 registrants for the first IT Matters: Peer Learning Session and 48 people attended

Current Trends

• Embrace digital transformation to change the way to transform each lead agency.
• Focus on enabling clear and direct alignment of IT strategic plans with business goals to prioritize organization objectives and investments.

• Increase integrated efforts on cybersecurity, privacy and risk management due to the increased nature of related security, risk and compliance incidents.

Option Years 2 and 3

• Ongoing Universal and Targeted TA
• IT Strategic Roadmap Implementation for 10 Lead Agencies:
• Implementation Support Through Project Life Cycle
• Annual CCDF IT Environment Scan

Option Year 1

• IT Strategic Roadmap Development for ~20 Lead Agencies:
• Development, Consultation, and Planning
• Application Process and Support for Ongoing Consultation
• Ongoing Universal and Targeted TA
• Annual CCDF IT Environment Scan
• IT Strategic Roadmap Implementation for 25 Lead Agencies (Q3-Q4)

Current Trends

• Adoption of hybrid methodologies are becoming more standard for software development projects. It's no longer about just agile, iterative or waterfall but about bringing the best of each into a hybrid operating model.

• Greater emphasis is being placed on change and portfolio management across project and program management practices.

• Remote and hybrid work collaboration are the norm now and are changing the way project teams operate.

Current Trends

• There is a shift towards knowledge sharing over knowledge hoarding in organizations. Intranets continue being key platforms to help achieve this.

• There is an opportunity to bring together content management, search, personalization and adaptive learning-based capabilities from collected and generated knowledge. The convergence of these technologies will be the differentiator.

• AI-powered knowledge management systems are becoming more common.

All DISCC Technical Assistance is based on the domain areas within our IT Strategic Framework.

Our Mission

We provide technical assistance and consultation to State, Territory, and Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies to improve their data and IT systems for better experiences, increased access to quality child care, and more equitable outcomes for children, families, and providers.

Current Trends

• Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming HR practices including focusing on Employee Experience as a key area to enable.

• Greater focus on employee engagement and retention. Understanding how to measure employee satisfaction and engagement and retaining talent will be a higher priority than before.

• Increasing use of remote and flexible work arrangements. Post COVID work formats have enabled a new standard that all employers need to be able to accommodate.

Base Year

• Webpage and IT Resources Clearinghouse section
• Integration into CCTAN Workgroups
• Conduct CCDF IT Environment Scan with Lead Agencies
• Create Framework and Maturity Model to Benchmark Lead Agency’s Data Systems
• Ongoing Universal and Targeted TA

CCDF IT Environment Scan

The scan serves as an initial IT Needs Assessment. The scan will be updated following its initial release so that you can track progress toward your Data and IT system goals.

Current Trends

• Increased focus on strategic vendor resilience and risk management related to vendor and supplier base diversification, more throrough vendor monitoring and risk assessments.
• Greater emphasis on outcome-based models that focus on achieving specific business results.
• Increased use of automation for procurement processes.

Online Learning Opportunities

DISCC provides webinars both live and on-demand on a wide variety of topics to build a strong foundation in Data and IT systems and empower you. Topics may include (but are not limited to): the Software Development Lifecycle, IT Service Procurement, IT Strategic Planning, and IT Project Management.

Current Trends

• Increase emphasis on more deliberate investment in IT security and Risk based on all the existing cyber threats and events.
• Phishing attacks are evolving and becoming more sophisticated and targeted.
• More focus on zero trust security is an approach that assumes no user or device can be trusted by default is becoming the norm across all organizations.

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Current Trends

• Design Thinking approach and frameworks have become more popular recently for all technology and business projects within government. Training employees in this discipline is a key next step.

• Greater focus on delivering more inclusive and accessible systems. Accessibility needs to continue being top of mind when designing and building systems and when delivering citizen experiences.

• Focused on user personalization to deliver more tailored and individualized experiences.

Current Trends

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integration with Data and Analytics integration is a critical component to IT modernization specifically when related to data analysis, visualization, insight generation, pattern identification and better decision making.
• Real time and streaming data analytics are becoming core components of effective operations and transformation
• Cloud platforms are becoming the preferred choice for data storage and analytics due to their scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Our Vision

To transform childcare using technology.

Peer to Peer Learning Opportunities

DISCC staff facilitate conversations between CCDF Lead Agencies in spaces where you can learn and develop thought partnerships with colleagues on Data and IT systems topics important and relevant to you.

DISCC Engagement

• States - 49
• Territories – 2
• Tribal Nations - 109

Data and IT System Consultation

The DISCC team consists of Child Care, Technology, and IT Strategy consultants to support you in achieving your Data and IT system aspirations. These opportunities may include long term individual planning and project support in collaboration with other subject matter experts from the Child Care Technical Assistance (CCTAN) Centers depending on your needs.

IT Strategic Roadmap Development and Implementation

IT Strategic Roadmaps align your IT efforts to your strategic goals. DISCC will work with a small number of interested states, territories, and Tribes to develop IT Strategic Roadmaps. Intensive support will be provided for a limited number of Lead Agencies to implement their Roadmaps.