My day job is helping state welfare agencies navigate the fens and bogs of federal law and regulation. My side job is helping netlogx team members understand how state government works the unique struggles our state clients face. Many new netlogx team members have worked in the private sector and have had little interaction with the public sector or state programs like Medicaid. As a former state program administer with 28 years’ experience in welfare and human services programs, I provide team members with insight and context to aid them as they work solutions with the state.
The public sector has nuances and circumstances that aren’t common in the private sector. For example, most human services programs get federal funding and federal dollars come with strings. State agencies must maintain specific criteria (e.g. update to date state plans, quarterly financial reporting, case processing metrics) to continue to receive federal funding. Each federal agency has its own level on engagement with the states. This is especially true with IT projects that netlogx team members will find themselves assigned to. Some federal agencies, such as Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), are very active in their oversight duties while others are more passive. Knowing which federal agencies will be onsite regularly or requiring weekly or monthly status updates on IT projects and why they want this information gives the netlogx team member better understanding of what’s going on.
I conduct quarterly training presentations and write white papers over-viewing specific programs (e.g. Medicaid: who is eligible, how does someone get on Medicaid, how is Medicaid funded) or issues of special interest such as Medicaid employment and training requirements. I also help team members keep abreast of program changes or potential changes and how those changes may affect our state client’s program. I also provide research support when needed. The goal of all of this isn’t to make every netlogx team member an expert on state government but to provide context on how a state agency works. The more a team member understands a state client’s situation, the better he/she can tailor a solution to meet the client’s needs.
