ACSES: Built in the 80s, Modernized for the Future

When the Automated Child Support Enforcement System (ACSES) was built over 40 years ago, the modern internet as we know it didn’t exist, and cell phones were the size of bricks. Today, families can access child support services on their mobile devices, and OIT teams recently completed a two-phase, multi-year upgrade to securely move ACSES to the cloud. 

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), along with several partner agencies and counties, relies on this core system to provide economic security to over 122,000 Colorado families per year. 

Heather McWhorter is the ACSES service delivery manager at CDHS and emphasizes that “its performance directly impacts our program's ability to distribute child support payments to families in a timely and efficient manner. Consequently, the ongoing technical support, maintenance and system updates are critical to fulfilling the core mission of the Child Support Services Program.” 

Here’s how the upgrade improves this critical system for Coloradans:

• Improved Customer Experience: State employees can process requests faster and with fewer technical hiccups, boosting satisfaction.
• Long-Term Efficiency: CDHS will be able to set long-term goals for the application, move forward with enhancements over time and adapt to the evolving needs of Colorado families.
• Enhanced Security: Moving to the cloud makes the system's sensitive data much more resilient against modern threats.

OIT has strengthened another digital service that Coloradans rely on, reaching a milestone for our technical debt remediation initiative. Step by step, we are replacing legacy systems with a digital government built entirely for tomorrow.