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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume IV, Issue 9 | September 2001 |
When people think of WIC, (Women, Infants and Children Program) they might think of the tags at the supermarket on milk and cheese, or they might think of friends or family who utilize the program. They are probably unaware of the technology behind the program, and the changes that have taken place in the last few years.
In the last two years, WIC computer systems have received major upgrades. In 1999, The WIC software application was modified to meet Y2K requirements, along with changes in architecture. The old configuration consisted of Bull DPX-200 minicomputers located at agency sites. Each site maintained a separate database of user information. At the end of the day, WIC agency staff would use a 9600 Baud modem dialup connection to transmit changes to the central database on a Bull DPX-300. This was replaced by a client/server architecture connected through the WAN to the central database server in Augusta. At the same time, all agencies received Win95 desktops. Initially 56k WAN circuits were installed, and they have recently been upgraded to T1 connections.
Currently, WIC has 18 agency offices located throughout the State with approximately 100 employees. Each remote office has an HP NT4.0 server functioning as a backup domain controller, providing local user authentication, and login security. The remote servers connect to a primary domain controller in Augusta. The WIC application resides on each individual server. Users login on individual workstations and run the application through the local NT server, connecting to an Oracle database on an HP K-Class Unix server located in Augusta. The days of dealing with multiple databases are gone! The new system has proven to be a great success.
User and server administration is done centrally through a help desk staff provided by Department of Human Services - Division of Technical Services (DoTS). There, a determination is made as to the type of issue or problem. Server and hardware issues are resolved by DoTS; if issues are related to database or the WIC application, they are directed to WIC application support staff. There are also eight full time WIC staff members, responsible for administering the overall program.
WIC is a nutrition program serving thousands of Maine families through their agency offices and at over 100 locations throughout the State (see: http://www.maine.gov/dhs/wic). In each agency office, recipients receive free nutrition advice, resource information, and determine if they qualify for benefits. If qualified, checks are issued to assist families in purchasing nutritious foods for mothers, infants, and children up to the age of five.
In order to reach out to as many families as possible, WIC staff often travel to remote sites, such as town halls or church basements. There, WIC staffers use laptop computers to help qualify recipients. At the end of the day, recipient data is added to the central database through the agency office.
In the works is a plan to increase the ease and efficiency in administering the remote sites. Eventually remote laptops will be connected together by way of a wireless hub. This will allow several laptops to be used simultaneously in a local setting, shorten waiting lines, and enable staff increased mobility in adapting to differing site layouts. Also, all agency site users will have MS Outlook 2000 installed on their desktops and be given Exchange mail accounts in the near future. This will allow WIC staffers to more closely integrate with state personnel. On the horizon is the research into a Web enabled WIC application. The future also holds the possibility of an electronic benefits smart card that would eliminate checks. These are options still several years down the road.
Overall, the use of current and emerging technologies will enable the WIC program to continue to efficiently and effectively serve the needs of Maine residents.
The author, Kevin St Thomas MCSE, MCP+I, is a Information Systems Support Specialist II at the Department of Human Services – Division of Technical Services (DoTS). Questions or comments? Kevin may be reached by e-mailing Kevin.Stthomas@state.me.us.
