7 News Belize

Department Of Human Services Steps Up
posted (May 15, 2014)
If you were rating government departments in terms of sexiness, the Coast Guard with all their fancy boats and their SEALS would probably be a 9; the MET Department maybe a 7, but only because they're always on the radio, while Immigration - with its constant controversy - that would be a definite 10! And the Department of Human Services?....naaah...that would be like a one. Don't get us wrong they do important work, but it's trench work: they don't get fancy SUV's, or fend off major controversies - they do the important, un-recognized work, holding together a society that's tearing at the seams. It's tough work acting as the safety net, the last resort for those in desperate social circumstances. But the Department has been earning kudos for its BOOST programme, which is now being upheld as a regional model, and now for the use of information and communication technology for a customized web-based case management system called "FAM Care."

It's not just a system to untangle the bureaucracy, but it will also see the more prompt, accountable and efficient delivery of services. CEO Judith Alpuche explained today:..

Judith Alpuche, CEO Human Development
"Basically what we use to do on paper in terms of files of clients etc., we will have it online. This system has the ability to track clients through our system for all of our departments and units to see what services clients are getting and things like that. So it will push us towards a lot more efficiency and effectiveness. We see that potential for family court, for other entities that we work it. First of all you don't have clients turning round and around - that's one thing. The ability to search and to see too what kind of service the client is getting, when the client came in - all that, so that you are able to really help people instead of having them turning around this is just the tool to make sure that we can step up our game and make sure that people are protected and supported."

Today's event was held as part of a three day south-south social policy dialogue and knowledge transfer among Caribbean countries where representatives of 8 Caribbean Countries and Social Services ministers form Dominica and Grenada attended.

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7 News Belize