Florida Department of Children and Families Launches MyACCESS Portal

On Dec. 5, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is launching an upgraded version of its MyACCESS government assistance portal to make it easier for users to renew or apply for government programs such as food assistance, temporary cash assistance and Medicaid.

The department’s MyACCESS portal upgrade was inspired by its previous ACCESS (Automated Community Connection to Economic Self-Sufficiency) system.

According to the department’s website, the upgrade focuses on five key areas of modernization to ensure a seamless, efficient and personalized experience for residents to access SNAP (food assistance), TANF (cash assistance) and Medicaid (health-care coverage assistance).

First on the department’s to-do list was to create a more unified and comprehensive platform that simplifies the management of government assistance programs.

After that, the department focused on enhancing usability by redesigning the system’s interface and adding intuitive features to help users apply for and manage government assistance applications.

Next was increasing mobile responsiveness, which entailed making the system accessible across various platforms, including mobile phones, tablets and PCs.

Once system mobility was established, the department focused on streamlining the portal’s document upload process, allowing users to submit required documentation for applications or renewals.

Lastly, the department implemented state-of-the-art security measures to safeguard users’ sensitive information and secure all system data.

Outside of these changes, the department implemented two other modernization efforts, including establishing cloud environments and replacing the former ACCESS system’s user self-service portal to create a more “comprehensive and efficient system.”

Once these upgrades go live, users must create a new account for the system, which will be linked to their current government assistance cases and enable two-factor authentication to secure their data.

DCF is in the midst of a multiyear effort to update the system, as well as its Florida Safe Families Network child welfare system.

For more information about the MyACCESS Portal, users can visit the department’s website online.