The Federal Digital Strategy and Opportunities for the Federal HIV Work Force

Leave a comment HIV Policy & Programs September 6, 2012

By Miguel Gomez, Director, AIDS.gov, and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

On May 23, 2012, the White House released the Digital Government Strategy (PDF), a twelve-month roadmap to build a 21st Century Digital Government that delivers better digital services to the American people.
The AIDS.gov team has been closely following the progress of the Strategy from development to implementation. We see the Strategy as an opportunity for change that can improve Federal communication about HIV, expand our collective reach and ultimately better serve the public around HIV prevention, care and treatment. We are working with our Federal colleagues to ensure that all of us understand the Strategy and are communicating about meeting its requirements. Given the Strategy’s significance, we used this opportunity to educate ourselves, our stakeholders, and colleagues in the Federal HIV community about this initiative.
To further act on this obligation, on August 14, 2012, AIDS.gov hosted “The Federal Digital Strategy and Opportunities for the Federal HIV Work Force” webinar. Federal staff from over 100 listening sites (representing agencies from HHS, VA, HUD, and the State Department and more) heard from senior leadership across the U.S. Government about the Digital Government Strategy, its impact on Federal programs, and how it is being implemented at the Federal agency level. Here are some highlights:
Ms. Gwynne Kostin, Director, Digital Services Innovation Center, Office of Citizen Services & Innovative Technologies, GSA, opened the call by providing an overview of the Strategy. Ms. Kostin noted that the Strategy is the result of work by two Federal workgroups focused on the revising Federal web and mobile policies. Ms. Kostin emphasized: 1) The Strategy is all about people and providing them access to information and services anytime, anywhere, on any device; 2) sharing best practices, platforms, and other available resources across the U.S. Government to provide high-quality digital services in a cost-effective and efficient manner; and 3) preparing the Government to adapt to the inevitable changes in technology.
Ms. Prudence Goforth, Director, Web Communications and New Media Division, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, HHS, talked about what implementation means at the agency level and highlighted opportunities the Strategy provides for the Federal HIV community. She underscored the importance of Federal agencies understanding their audiences and developing and delivering content through multiple channels to effectively reach the people they serve.
Mr. Fred Smith, Technology Team Lead, Electronic Media Branch, Division of News and Electronic Media, Office of the Associate Director for Communications, CDC, discussed content syndication as one way to achieve the aims of the Strategy. Content syndication is a process that allows content to be created once, but republished across multiple websites and web-based platforms. Syndicating content allows Federal agencies to make content available to many more citizens through multiple channels more efficiently and at lower cost compared to building and maintaining numerous websites.
Mr. Rick Holgate, Assistant Director for Science and Technology and Chief Information Officer, ATF, wrapped up the call by discussing what the Strategy means for an increasingly mobile workforce. He highlighted that mobile technologies have the capacity to enhance productivity and maximize the time Federal staff have to serve the public.
The speakers then responded to questions from Federal staff.
In the coming months, AIDS.gov will continue to follow and blog about the Strategy. Within the lens and requirements of the Strategy, we will also continue to look at the role of new media in enhancing communication with the people we serve—the HIV community, our Federal colleagues, citizens, and other stakeholders. Visit http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy and learn more about the Strategy at www.AIDS.gov.