Case Study: California Department of Social Services achieves faster, more efficient citizen services with Microsoft Azure

California Department of Social Services goes digital to deliver faster, more efficient services to citizens

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serves nearly 3 million residents with 4,200 employees across adult, welfare, community care, and children and family services. Facing heavy caseloads (about 714 citizens per employee), fragmented paper processes, limited mobility, and the need to align with other state departments, CDSS sought to streamline operations, improve communication, and deliver faster, more efficient services.

Partnering with Microsoft and Planet Technologies and using Surface, Office 365 (including SharePoint and Skype for Business), Azure, and Evolve 365 training, CDSS moved from paper to digital. Employees now have instant access to case files, can collaborate and edit documents in real time, and process requests more quickly, while Azure-powered portals and online directories (with citizen reviews) have increased transparency, reduced costs, and improved service delivery for Californians.

California Department of Social Services

Susan Slaven

Chief of Operations