IllinoisConnect

IllinoisConnect overview
The IllinoisConnect Project is a transformational initiative committed to ensuring the safety of Illinois children by increasing the quality and efficiency of services that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and its partner agencies provide to Illinois youth and families.

How IllinoisConnect will affect Illinois DCFS and child welfare
IllinoisConnect changes the way child welfare workers and caregivers serve Illinois youth and families through the development of a user-friendly system that incorporates time-saving automations with strong data security. Its streamlined processes, updated policies and systematic safety model work seamlessly with new technology to ensure a faster, more robust experience and added efficiency to the delivery of services. Ultimately, this means that together, DCFS and its partners will be able to focus on what matters most – spending more time with children and families.

Launching IllinoisConnect
IllinoisConnect has already released several tools as part of the multi-year transformational change. These include:

• Intelligent Case Notes Search – allows caseworkers to easily search for key information throughout an entire case file.
• Children360 Analytic Tool – provides insight into locations of daycare deserts and potential foster homes to assist DCFS decision-making and support resources.
• Child Welfare Insights Tool – shares real-time data with the public to assist with the commitment to transparency and accurate reporting.
• Workload Automation Tool – uses “bots” to automatically complete repetitive processes so that staff can spend more time with children and families.
• Learning and Development Center – modernized online learning management system.
• Immersive Learning Tool – facilitates realistic scenarios and real-time decision-making in a virtual practice environment.

Illinois DCFS will launch more tools in the coming years as we continue to transform child welfare in Illinois.

Four principles of IllinoisConnect

IllinoisConnect is founded on four basic principles:

• Technology – IllinoisConnect is the web-based Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) replacing the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS), the case management system that DCFS and partnering agency workers use daily.
• Practice – IllinoisConnect includes a systematic, criteria-based approach for child welfare decision-making. The Safety Assessment and Family Evaluation (SAFE) practice model supports family preservation and restoration while keeping children safe.
• Process – IllinoisConnect’s efforts have included working with DCFS staff members to document worker processes, identify opportunities to improve, eliminate unnecessary tasks and increase time for workers to serve the needs of youth and families.
• Policy – IllinoisConnect's modernization initiative includes developing and deploying the Policy Information Management System (PIMS), which automates policy workflows, increases transparency of all policy requests and reduces the time needed for policy review and approvals.

Need help or want to know more?

• Direct your questions about IllinoisConnect to DCFS.IllinoisConnect@Illinois.gov.
• If you are a Child Welfare Contributing Agency contracted with DCFS, you can use your DCFS-affiliated Illinois.gov email credentials to access additional partner information on the IllinoisConnect intranet site.
• If you need assistance with your DCFS-affiliated Illinois.gov account, please contact the Help Desk: DoIT.HelpDesk@illinois.gov or 217-524-3648 or 312-814-3648.
• If you do not have a DCFS-affiliated Illinois.gov account, please contact your supervisor to obtain access.