Technology and Innovation

Johnson County website receives award from National Association of Government Web Professionals

tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:29:03 +0000

Johnson County website receives award from National Association of Government Web Professionals tim.dodderidge… Wed, 10/22/2025 - 14:29 October 23, 2025

Members of Johnson County's Web Service Team

Johnson County’s website, jocogov.org, has received a 2025 Pinnacle award for excellence in web design from the National Association of Government Web Professionals.

NAGW’s annual Pinnacle awards celebrate outstanding achievements in digital government innovation. Entries are judged on content, organization, design, performance, flexibility, accessibility, standards and interactivity.

The county received the award in the category of City/County Large Population Group (population greater than 225,000). This is the third time in the past four years that the county has received a NAGW Pinnacle award.

In 2023, the county earned the Best in Show Sponsor’s Award. In 2022, the county earned three awards: the Best in Show Sponsor’s Award, City/County Large Population Group and City/County Large Population Group – Members Choice.

Johnson County launched its current website in Dec. 2021. Some of the features that have contributed to the success of the county’s website since its relaunch include:

Drop-down menu and slider with relevant links
Clean, consistent design across the site
Optimization for mobile and tablet users
Strong focus on usability and accessibility
Guides that offer a comprehensive look at a topic

The site continues to be maintained and improved regularly, with the support of county web service and web management teams. They’ve created a wide range of standards to ensure continued success of the site – including grammar, style, accessibility and more.

Thoughts on the website? Let us know by sending an email to communications@jocogov.org.

Department:

Communications and Engagement

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Tips to Stay Safe Online

tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:41:54 +0000

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Tips to Stay Safe Online tim.dodderidge… Wed, 10/09/2024 - 13:41 October 1, 2025

IT Cybersecurity Team

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative to educate everyone – individuals and businesses alike – about online safety.

This year’s theme, “Stay Safe Online,” is all about the simple ways to stay safe from online threats. At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, Penny Postoak Ferguson touched on Cybersecurity Awareness Month during her Manager’s Memo, including the online safety tips below.

Thank you to the Johnson County Department of Technology and Innovation's cybersecurity team for their efforts to keep Johnson County cybersecure. You can find more online safety information through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency and National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Cybersecurity Safety Tips

There are simple actions we can take every day to protect ourselves, our families, and businesses from online threats. Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on the top four ways to stay safe online:

1. Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager

Strong passwords should be unique – passwords like “12345” or “password” just aren’t going to cut it. Without a strong password, hackers can easily access your accounts, especially if you use the same password for multiple accounts. Keep your passwords safe by using a Password Manager.

Make your passwords:

Long: Use at least 14 characters if possible.
Random: Mix cases, numbers, and symbols, or combine unrelated words.
Unique: Use a different strong password for each account.

2. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication makes your accounts safer, providing extra security by making you confirm your identity through a second authentication – such as a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app.

Be sure to turn on multi-factor authentication for each of your accounts. Go to the account’s settings, look for and turn on MFA, and select which MFA method to use from the options provided.

3. Recognize Phishing

Don’t take the bait: Phishing can be costly. By opening harmful links or attachments, you’re giving cybercriminals the opportunity to hack your device.

Be skeptical of unexpected emails, even if they appear to come from someone you know.
Do not open attachments or click links unless you were specifically expecting them.
If something feels off, contact the sender using a known phone number. Do not reply to the email, as the account may be compromised.
If you believe you’ve clicked on something malicious, especially if you entered your password or were prompted for a multi-factor authentication (MFA) token, run an anti-virus scan on your PC/laptop and change your password as soon as possible.

4. Update Software

It’s easy to put off updates to your software. However, resist the urge to select “remind me later,” as many of these updates are created to address security risks.

To ensure your safety online, install software updates as soon as possible. Ensure you turn on automatic updates to install as soon as they’re available.

Department:

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Johnson County hosts agencies from across the country as Familiar Faces Initiative Peer Learning Site

tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:57:27 +0000

Johnson County hosts agencies from across the country as Familiar Faces Initiative Peer Learning Site tim.dodderidge… Thu, 04/13/2023 - 14:57 April 13, 2023

Johnson County hosted 13 counties from across the country this week as a Peer-Learning Site for the Familiar Faces Initiative.

Standing at the forefront of criminal justice innovation, Johnson County joined three other counties as the inaugural group of the National Association of Counties’ Familiar Faces Initiative Peer-Learning Sites. From jail reentry planning to intensive care management, each host site pioneers approaches to better serve familiar faces.

During the site visit, the county shared its innovative approach with various agencies, including Salt Lake County, Utah; Durham County, North Carolina; Contra Costa County, California; the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Council of State Governments Justice Center.

Attendees explored the systems at play in Johnson County’s behavioral health and justice continuum. This continuum relies on data to better support “familiar faces” – those with health and behavioral health conditions who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis services.

One specific system attendees learned about was My Resource Connection, an internal data-sharing program. MyRC allows service providers to share client data between various agencies, while highlighting trends or gaps in service. The county then uses this data to better provide services to those in need.

Attendees also participated in a reentry simulation, which put them in the shoes of individuals reentering society following incarceration. The simulation highlights the difficulty to avoid recidivism, as nearly 65% will return to prison within three years of their release.

Following the site visit, Johnson County will continue to participate in the Familiar Faces network through calls, presentations, events and a community message board.

Learn more about the Familiar Faces Initiative Case Study: Johnson County, Kansas. See a full list of counties participating as FFI peer learning sites and find out more about the Familiar Faces Initiative.

Department:

County Manager's Office

Department of Corrections

District Courts

Emergency Services

Health and Environment

Mental Health

Sheriff

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Johnson County named a Peer-Learning Site for innovative approach to health and justice data

tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:56:51 +0000

Johnson County named a Peer-Learning Site for innovative approach to health and justice data tim.dodderidge… Thu, 11/03/2022 - 11:56 November 3, 2022

Standing at the forefront of criminal justice innovation, Johnson County is joining three other counties as the inaugural group of Familiar Faces Initiative Peer-Learning Sites.

The initiative, created by the National Association of Counties, spotlights the standout work of these counties regarding their health and justice data systems – used to better support those in need of services.

The Familiar Faces Initiative models how data is used to coordinate care for individuals with health and behavioral health conditions. These individuals are considered “familiar faces” who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis services.

As a peer learning site, Johnson County will share its innovative approach with the Familiar Faces network through calls, presentations, events and a community message board. It will also host in-person site visits April 12-13, 2023.

Each county announced as a Peer-Learning Site has a program supporting familiar faces. From jail reentry planning to intensive care management, these counties’ innovative approaches strive to improve outcomes for these individuals.

Johnson County stands at the forefront of service delivery through My Resource Connection, an internal data-sharing program. MyRC allows service providers to share client data between various agencies, while highlighting trends or gaps in service. The county then uses this data to better provide services to the community.

Department:

County Manager's Office

Department of Corrections

District Courts

Emergency Services

Health and Environment

Mental Health

Sheriff

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Cybersecurity Awareness Month emphasizes the importance of staying safe online

tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:11:12 +0000

Cybersecurity Awareness Month emphasizes the importance of staying safe online tim.dodderidge… Thu, 09/29/2022 - 11:11 September 28, 2023

Staying safe online is everyone’s responsibility. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with the goal to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity – that is, preventing by scams and hacks from lurking cybercriminals.

At Johnson County, we want to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to be safe and secure online. This year marks the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Over the past two decades, cybersecurity has grown into a worldwide effort as technology has evolved.

The new theme, "Secure Our World," reflects cybersecurity's widespread significance: important for all, all year long. It’s our goal that all individuals and organizations in the county make smart decisions online, whether on the job, at home or at school.

Cybersecurity Safety Tips

Cybercriminals could be just around the corner. Following proper precautions while online can keep them from obtaining your personal information – which could lead to financial fraud or identity theft. Follow these four steps to protect your online information and privacy:

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication for all your accounts, especially banking and financial services. MFA provides protection if your password is compromised. Attackers have recently used “MFA fatigue” to force someone to accept an MFA push notification, so only accept MFA push notifications if you’re actively trying to access the service.

2. Use Strong Passwords

Use strong password that are unique to each website or application. By reusing passwords across multiple sites, if one password is compromised, each site that you use that password for is compromised. You can check if your email or password has been compromises at haveibeenpwned.com and similar websites.

The easiest way to generate a strong password is to use a passphrase, which is a sentence or combination of words that is easy for you to remember and difficult for someone else to guess. So, don’t use something like MyNameIsBill2022, and instead use something like BigRedClock&2YellowHands.

3. Recognize and Report Phishing

Don’t fall for those emails or phone calls that seem too good to be true, alarming or threatening – especially if the caller is seeking personal information or if something seems strange. When in doubt, visit the business or person physically or call via a verified phone number.

For example, if you get an email from your credit card company about fraud, contact them via the number listed on your card or published on their website. Don’t trust any phone numbers, websites or addresses in an email. Unlike a seatbelt, don’t click it!

4. Update Software

Finally, keep your software up to date. The easiest way is to ensure auto-update is enable on your phone and software products.

Thanks for doing your part to stay safe online this Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For more cybersecurity tips, visit jocogov.org/cybersecurity or staysafeonline.org.

Secure Our World: Simple Steps to Protect Your Family

Department:

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Learn how to stay safe online during Cyber Security Awareness Month

Nicole.Blackwell@jocogov.org — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 00:09:45 +0000

Learn how to stay safe online during Cyber Security Awareness Month Nicole.Blackwe… Mon, 10/04/2021 - 19:09 October 4, 2021

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and Johnson County’s cybersecurity team wants to help celebrate by staying safe online.

Learn how to protect yourself and your family on our cybersecurity page.

You’ll discover how to create strong passwords and use multi-factor authentication. Figure out how to spot internet scams and phishing attempts in email. Learn how to safely share personal information online for banking and medical purposes.

Department:

All - General

Technology and Innovation

Category:

News

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Melinda.Hardin@jocogov.org — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 19:33:39 +0000

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Melinda.Hardin… Thu, 09/30/2021 - 14:33

Over the past two decades, cybersecurity has grown into a worldwide effort as technology has evolved. At Johnson County, we want to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to be safe and secure online.

Follow these four steps to protect your online information and privacy:

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication for all your accounts, especially banking and financial services. MFA provides protection if your password is compromised.
Use strong passwords that are unique to each website or application. If one password is compromised, each site that you use that password for is compromised.
Recognize and report phishing. Don’t fall for those emails or phone calls that seem too good to be true, alarming or threatening.
Keep your software up to date. The easiest way is to ensure auto-update is enable on your phone and software products.

Thanks for doing your part to stay safe online this Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Visit National Cyber Security Alliance

The Road to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Awareness Month — The Road to Cybersecurity

Administration Building

Melinda.Hardin@jocogov.org — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:56:02 +0000

Administration Building Melinda.Hardin… Tue, 09/14/2021 - 15:56 913-715-5000

111 S. Cherry St.
Olathe, KS 66061
United States

The Johnson County Administration Building was completed and occupied in 1992. It was designed to incorporate many of the architectural features of the 1892 courthouse, which was demolished in 1952.

It serves as the seat of the County Government, housing the Board of County Commissioners' Offices and is the location for all BOCC meetings, as well as most of the non-judicial public hearings.

JoCo Café, a self-service fresh micro market on the lower level of the building, offers convenience store snacks and drinks along with fresh food like salads and sandwiches.

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except major holidays

Department: County Auditor's Office Automated Information Mapping System Board of County Commissioners Budget and Financial Planning Building Codes Contractor Licensing County Manager's Office Facilities Management Financial Management and Administration Human Resources Legal Planning Planning, Housing and Community Development Technology and Innovation Treasury, Taxation and Vehicles

Phishing

Melinda.Hardin@jocogov.org — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 17:49:45 +0000

Phishing Melinda.Hardin… Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:49

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses in order to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerability to attacks.

Phishing emails may appear to come from a real financial institution, ecommerce site, government agency, or any other service, business, or individual. The email may also request personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers. When users respond with the information or click on a link, attackers use it to access users’ accounts.

Stay Protected While Connected:

The bottom line is that whenever you’re online, you’re vulnerable. If devices on your network are compromised for any reason, or if hackers break through an encrypted firewall, someone could be eavesdropping on you—even in your own home on encrypted Wi-Fi.

Simple Tips to Protect Yourself

Links in email and online posts are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If you’re unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate—do not respond, and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. Be cautious of generic greetings such as “Hello Bank Customer,” as these are often signs of phishing attempts. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of an email, call the company directly.

 Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately. Many phishing emails attempt to create a sense of urgency, causing the recipient to fear their account or information is in jeopardy. If you receive a suspicious email that appears to be from someone you know, reach out to that person directly on a separate secure platform. If the email comes from an organization but still looks “phishy,” reach out to them via customer service to verify the communication.

If people contacting you have key details from your life—your job title, multiple email addresses, full name, and more that you may have published online somewhere—they can attempt a direct spear-phishing attack on you. Cyber criminals can also use social engineering with these details to try to manipulate you into skipping normal security protocols.

Avoid clicking on hyperlinks in emails and hover over links to verify authenticity. Also ensure that URLs begin with “https.” The “s” indicates encryption is enabled to protect users’ information.

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. If MFA is an option, enable it by using a trusted mobile device, such as your smartphone, an authenticator app, or a secure token—a small physical device that can hook onto your key ring.

According to NIST guidance, you should consider using the longest password or passphrase permissible. Get creative and customize your standard password for different sites, which can prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to these accounts and protect you in the event of a breach. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts.

Make sure all of your computers, Internet of Things devices, phones, and tablets are equipped with regularly updated antivirus software, firewalls, email filters, and anti-spyware.

Information provided by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, please visit staysafeonline.org for additional resources. 

Scams

Melinda.Hardin@jocogov.org — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 17:48:44 +0000

Scams Melinda.Hardin… Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:48

The following messages from the Federal Trade Commission’s OnGuardOnline are examples of what attackers may email or text when phishing for sensitive information:

"We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below, and confirm your identity.”
“During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn’t verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information.”
“Our records indicate that your account was overcharged. You must call us within 7 days to receive your refund.”