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Thousand StoriesAuthor: Secretary Brown
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The AI Maturity Model in Health and Human Services.
Thursday, 15 January, 2026
Navigating the Renaissance: The AI Maturity Model in Health and Human Services.Episode Overview: In this episode of the Thousand Stories podcast, the Renaissance Series, host Justin Brown and co-host Luke Williams are joined by Krystal Van der Brink of Global True North to discuss the transformative potential and inherent risks of artificial intelligence (AI) within the public sector. As health and human services (HHS) systems face rising demand and budget constraints, the conversation explores how emerging technologies can move these systems toward a more human-centered and innovative future.Key Topics Discussed:• The AI Maturity Model: Justin Brown introduces a framework designed to help leaders evaluate AI implementations in a structured, accountable, and repeatable way. The model utilizes two primary axes: ◦ The Horizontal Axis: Maps use cases from internal operational and administrative functions (like managing return mail) to client-serving, external-facing interactions. ◦ The Vertical Axis: Distinguishes between transactional government (one-and-done needs like licenses) and supportive government (relationship-based programs like child welfare and mental health).• The Rights Impacting Horizon: A critical element of the model that flags use cases potentially impacting human rights. This "dotted line" signals when an agency needs higher levels of transparency, stakeholder engagement, and data security.• Capacity Building and the Workforce: The group discusses how AI can "build capacity" by automating administrative "busy work," allowing the workforce to focus on relational, supportive roles and community service. Crystal highlights how tools like generative AI-driven routing and automated document processing (OCR) can empower staff to spend more time in the field.• Seeking and Destroying Human Bias: Justin shares insights on how AI, when used as decision support rather than a replacement for human judgment, can actually help identify and eliminate systemic bias in government processes, such as screening children into deep government systems.Featured Use Cases:• Workforce Support Bots: Exploring how AI can revolutionize training and policy learning for new employees.• HR1/Medicaid Work Requirements: A look at how automation can streamline eligibility validation through document scraping.This episode serves as an open invitation to the HHS community to collaborate on and refine these frameworks as the landscape of technology evolves. By prioritizing human-centered design, leaders can ensure that the "Renaissance" in human services truly serves the people who need it most.
