The county's Department of Family Services is one of the first human services agencies in the country using artificial intelligence to reduce times spent on paperwork, allowing social workers to connect more with families and enhance service delivery.
DFS uses an AI program called Beam Notes to capture and transpose case content into structured, usable reports that are then transferred into existing government records systems. Practitioners always ask for consent before using this technology and are also required to personally review all notes for accuracy.
As one example, the program produced a summary of more than 800 pages of medical records in less than 30 minutes, according to DFS Family Safety Practitioner Joseph Cox.
Results from an initial 40-staff pilot program showed a 51% reduction in time spent entering case narratives; 90% satisfaction rating for note accuracy and overall experience; and 81% improvement in reported work-life balance. The pilot has expanded to an additional 150 practitioners and supervisors across two divisions: Children, Youth and Families; and Adult and Aging.
According to Brahema Molubah, another DFS family safety practitioner, “Families enjoy it because there’s a record of what they’re saying and how they’re saying it, so there are no misunderstandings. And the kids love it. They feel like they’re being recorded and heard, in a way.”
People may think using artificial intelligence takes the human out of human services, when it actually creates the opportunity for more meaningful human interaction, higher job satisfaction and better service delivery.
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