Connecting at CWDA 2025: A Look Back at a Great Conference!
The Highlands Consulting Group, Part of Accenture, participated in the 2025 CWDA Conference last month – an important annual gathering that brings together California county leaders and partners to delve into the most pressing human services topics across the state. With approximately 1,000 attendees over…
Read MoreCalifornia’s Transit Transformation Is Underway
Highlands Consulting has been proud to help California reimagine the future of public transit by supporting CalSTA’s Transit Transformation Task Force (TTTF). Through Senate Bill 125 (2023), the Task Force was created to bring together voices from across the state—including transit leaders, community advocates, researchers,…
Read MoreInnovative Solutions for Our State’s Roads
As California works toward a more sustainable transportation future, new funding models are needed to maintain our roads. To address this challenge, the State of California launched the Road Charge Collection Pilot (RCCP) to exploring an approach where drivers pay based on miles driven rather…
Read MoreAn Exciting New Chapter
Today is a defining moment in our firm’s journey – we are officially joining Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting practice. Since founding Highlands Consulting in 2002, my goal has always been simple: bring together a team of people who care deeply about solving big problems for…
Read MoreFour Top Tips for Managing Large-Scale Webinars
I’m proud to be part of Highlands Consulting’s Strategic Communications Team helping California’s child welfare professionals as they transition to a new case management system. Last month, we facilitated a 3-hour live webinar that included project updates and two system demonstrations – with over 480…
Read MoreShining Bright at the 2024 CWDA Conference
Highlands Consulting is providing strategic communication services on the CWS-CARES project. CWS-CARES stands for Child Welfare Services – California Automated Response and Engagement System. It replaces the existing statewide 30+ year old California Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) with a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information…
Read MoreTransforming Statewide Transit
The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has embarked on an ambitious project to transform transit in California. The Transit Transformation Task Force (TTTF) will develop policy recommendations to grow transit ridership, improve the transit experience, and address long-term operational needs. This effort is guided by…
Read MoreHighlands’ Summer Event – on a Train!
This month, our Highlands Consulting Team boarded the River Fox Train in West Sacramento to travel along a scenic 10-mile stretch of track through Yolo’s countryside. Despite the hot weather, we enjoyed our time in the open-air car (and the air conditioned one!), having dinner…
Read MoreLeveraging Pandemic Investments
California invested significantly in new or improved IT systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These initiatives, such as deploying a statewide contact tracing platform and systems for vaccine distribution and appointment scheduling, met critical needs that existed long before the pandemic. With the worst…
Read MorePlaying a Part in “Rebuilding California”
It has been almost two years since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed. This landmark law includes federal policy direction and funding for climate action, zero-emissions vehicle deployment, social equity, and multi-modal transportation investments – all critical initiatives for our State. Highlands…
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