Office Of Children's Services

Steering Committee


Goal: Facilitate the successful planning, development and implement of the Alaska Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) Project, Online Resources for the Children of Alaska (ORCA).

Objective: Provide direction, oversight and decision making during the planning, development and implementation of ORCA.

Purpose: The Steering Committee has been established to help guide and support the ORCA project through to its completion. Because of the high cost and complexity of the project, the past failure to develop a SACWIS, the long term impact of ORCA on the Division and the high priority/profile of this project it requires top management involvement and oversight. The primary purpose of the steering committee will be to provide insight an decision making into the approval process so the goals and objectives of the project can be accomplished.

Membership:

OCS Deputy Commissioner

 Tammy Sandoval
FMS Assistant Commissioner Janet Clarke
FMS Data Processing Manager IV Ted Israelson
OCS ORCA Project Manager Vacant
FMS Data Processing Manager III Larry Walsh
OCS Administrative Manager IV Nancy Burns
OCS Social Services Program Administrator Richard Nault
OCS Social Services Program Administrator Joanne Gibbens
OCS Social Services Program Officer Tim Huffman
OCS Social Services Program Administrator Simon Taylor

Functions:

  1. Make decisions related to the planning, development and implementation of ORCA.
  2. Attend meetings in order to track progress of ORCA.
  3. Review information provided by ORCA Staff in order to be able to make informed decisions.
  4. Attend vendor demonstrations in order to better understand functionality available for ORCA.
  5. Review recommendations of ORCA Staff and Work Teams.
  6. Share information about and progress on ORCA to other interested parties.
  7. Be available to meet with Federal staff and consultants as needed to facilitate the successful planning, development, and implementation of ORCA.