System and method for managing and tracking child welfare services

1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring welfare of a child in a welfare system comprising:

prompting a reporter, through a point of sale terminal, to swipe a case identification card associated with a welfare system and issued to a child placed under the care of the reporter, wherein:

the reporter is one of a foster parent and a group home worker;

receiving, by a server, information stored in the case identification card through a point of sale interface separate from the point of sale terminal;

in response to receiving the information from the case identification card, prompting the reporter to provide child update information using the point of sale terminal, wherein the child update information is related to events occurring in the life of the child and includes a location of the child received via a location device in the proximity of the child;

receiving information from a child services card separate from the case identification card, wherein the reporter scans at least one of a plurality of bar codes displayed on the child services card, the bar codes corresponding to at least one of a physical condition of the child and a risk factor of the child;

when an identifier fails to match a stored identifier associated with the reporter:

receiving an explanation by the reporter; and

storing, in a database, the identifier and the explanation entered by the reporter;

storing the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card in the database;

receiving, by the server, welfare benefit payment information related to the child, the welfare benefit payment information comprising information related to a disbursement made by the welfare system for the child;

storing the welfare benefit payment information together with the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card in the database;

integrating, by the welfare system, the child update information, the location information of the child, the information received from the child services card, and the welfare benefit payment information to provide a centralized system for a plurality of stakeholders to monitor physical and financial welfare of the child;

automatically providing, in real time, the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card to a plurality of law enforcement officials through a mobile platform;

periodically accessing, by the server, the database to determine if additional child update information for the child has not been stored for a period of time;

when a predetermined time period passes without the additional child update information being stored:

generating a child alert; and

sending, using an interactive voice response system, the child alert to the reporter; and

when a second predetermined time period passes without the additional child update information being stored, sending, using the interactive voice response system, the child alert to one or more stakeholders.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the child update information comprises child status information and reporter information.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the reporter information comprises at least one of a case identifier, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the reporter, and a GPS location of the reporting terminal.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the child status information comprises at least one of a health of the child, a status of the child, information about the child's environment, and a picture of the child.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising processing payments based on the child update information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the case identification card to the child.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a scan of the case identification card.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the child update information is received using an interactive voice response system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the child placed under the care of the reporter lives in a home with the reporter.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the reporter is a foster parent.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card are automatically provided to a plurality of law enforcement officials in response to receiving, by the welfare system, the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card provided by the reporter.

12. A computer system for monitoring welfare of a child in a welfare system, comprising:

a memory;

a server;

a database;

a reader device configured to read a case identification card associated with a welfare system and issued to a child placed under the care of a reporter, wherein:

the reporter is one of a foster parent and a group home worker;

a camera configured to obtain a photograph of the child; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the server, and the database, the processor configured to:

prompt the reporter, through a point of sale terminal, to swipe the case identification card;

receive, by the server, information stored in the case identification card through a point of sale interface separate from the point of sale terminal;

in response to receiving the information from the case identification card, prompt the reporter to provide child update information using the point of sale terminal, wherein the child update information is related to events occurring in the life of the child and includes a location of the child received via a location device in the proximity of the child;

receive information from a child services card separate from the case identification card, wherein the reporter scans at least one of a plurality of bar codes displayed on the child services card, the bar codes corresponding to at least one of a physical condition of the child and a risk factor of the child;

when an identifier fails to match a stored identifier associated with the reporter:

receive an explanation entered by the reporter; and

store, in the database, the identifier and the explanation entered by the reporter;

store the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card in the database;

receive, by the server, welfare benefit payment information related to the child, the welfare benefit payment information comprising information related to a disbursement made by the welfare system for the child;

store the welfare benefit payment information together with the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card in the database;

integrate, by the welfare system, the child update information, the location information of the child, the information received from the child services card, and the welfare benefit payment information to provide a centralized system for a plurality of stakeholders to monitor physical welfare and financial welfare of the child;

automatically provide, in real time, the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card to a plurality of law enforcement officials through a mobile platform;

periodically access, by the server, the database to determine if additional child update information for the child has not been stored for a period of time;

when a predetermined time period passes without the additional child update information being stored:

generate a child alert; and

send, using an interactive voice response system, the child alert to the reporter; and

when a second predetermined time period passes without the additional child update information being stored, send, using the interactive voice response system, the child alert to one or more stakeholders.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the child update information comprises child status information and reporter information.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the reporter information comprises at least one of a case identifier, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the reporter, and a GPS location of the reporting terminal.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the child status information comprises at least one of a health of the child, a status of the child, information about the child's environment, and a picture of the child.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to process payments based on the child update information.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system further includes an interactive voice response system configured to receive the child update information.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the child placed under the care of the reporter lives in a home with the reporter.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the reporter is a foster parent.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card are automatically provided to a plurality of law enforcement officials in response to receiving, by the welfare system, the child update information, the location information of the child, and the information received from the child services card provided by the reporter.