Insights

Writing on human services technology

Practical ideas on modernizing the systems behind health and human services — from the team building them. Modernization, eligibility, child welfare, data, AI, and human-centered design.

Featured

Modernization

May 28, 2026 · 6 min read

Why HHS modernization stalls — and how to ship it incrementally

Big-bang replacements of legacy benefits systems are where budgets go to die. Here's the incremental playbook we use to de-risk modernization.

Read article

Human-Centered Design5 min read

Designing eligibility systems people can actually use

A benefit that's too hard to apply for isn't really available. Small design decisions in eligibility systems have outsized effects on who gets help.

April 15, 2026Read

Data & AI7 min read

A practical framework for responsible AI in human services

AI can help caseworkers focus on people instead of paperwork — but only with guardrails. Here's how we think about using it where the stakes are high.

March 10, 2026Read

Child & Family Services6 min read

What CCWIS really asks of child welfare technology

CCWIS is less a checklist than a philosophy: modular, data-driven systems that serve caseworkers and improve outcomes for children and families.

February 4, 2026Read

Newsletter

The Welfare Stack

A practical newsletter on modernizing health and human services — eligibility, Medicaid, child welfare, data, and the human-centered design behind it. Ideas you can use, no spam.