Thursday, August 13, 2020
Good morning, IDHS Staff:
As we continue to follow guidance from Governor JB Pritzker around social distancing and other health and safety protocols to fight COVID-19 and with a number of our staff working remotely, our ability to still be effective partners to Illinois residents under these circumstances is incredibly important. With leadership from the Management of Information Systems (MIS) team, our staff across our IDHS facilities have continued to be ready.
The MIS team includes 125 employees and contractors supporting 14,000 IDHS staff across Illinois agencies, 60,000 users on the OneNet training system and 100's of thousands of Illinois residents who use technology daily for scheduling appointments, reviewing client files, submitting applications, and much more. With an experienced team of professionals focused on business applications development, security, the Integrated Eligibility System (IES), and more, these dynamic professionals have pulled together to support the revolving landscape to support employees in remote working, as well as helping to ensure that residents who need our services continue to have access.
Like many of us, MIS can remember when the idea of remote working seemed impossible. Traditionally, the team focuses on software development, procuring technology and software, and training new talent to deliver services that align with business or agency needs. Today, with a shift in these unprecedented times, these technologists are dealing with implementing new and upgraded technology on a large scale and short time frame to support our State agencies.
As we continue to adapt and evaluate what the future looks like in delivering services, MIS is constantly adjusting their priorities based on the ongoing needs of our agency and State needs. We look forward to working with this team in delivering IDHS services.
Thank you to the collective MIS team, including Mike Scott (Web and Admin Services), Kory Chapman (Information Security Officer), Susan Hamlin (IES Program Manager), Robert Moore (Technology Manager), Ralph Young (Project Management), John Minick (Business Application Manager), Cheryl Bradley (Procurement), and the Department of Innovation and Technology leadership and staff. We could not serve our clients - and could not have maintained service during COVID-19 - without your tremendous work and contributions.
Across IDHS, we say thank you.
Sincerely,
Grace
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, IDHS
