Virginia moving forward with modular CCWIS

Published: February 28, 2018

SLED Market AnalysisChild WelfareInformation TechnologyOperations & MaintenanceProfessional ServicesSocial ServicesSocial ServicesSocial Services

An in-depth look at Virginia’s plans to adopt a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS)

By now, vendors operating in the social services market are likely familiar with the CCWIS regulation issued by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in 2016. The rule encourages states to revamp their child welfare information systems in order to continue to receive enhanced federal funding. The new regulation has spurred many states to review their child welfare technology systems and decide whether to build a new CCWIS or conduct upgrades to their current child welfare technology. In Virginia, current in-house systems are not meeting Department objectives and the state envisions a single-system solution to replace existing technologies. In 2016, the state hired Public Consulting Group (PCG) to help draft and design requirements to replace the state’s current systems. The state was weighing several alternative strategies, including replacing the existing systems with a Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product, implementing a transfer system from another state, or moving forward with a custom built product. The Department ultimately decided to procure a new modular CCWIS, commencing with an Enterprise Mobility Software solicitation in May 2017. This procurement aims to facilitate the technological capabilities of caseworkers operating in the field by providing mobile devices, reducing duplicative data entry requirements and improving real time data access. A total of eleven (11) vendors submitted proposals in response to the solicitation, including Accenture, CMA, Conduent, DataStrong, EastBanc, Helix, IBM, Mobile Reach, RedMane, Welligent, and Deloitte. Proposals are still under review by the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS).

According to DSS, the state plans to move forward with modules for Case Management, Financial and Provider Management modules with the goal of having a full replacement system by 2021. The Case Management module is anticipated to be released in the spring or early summer of 2018.

A visual representation of the desired CCWIS is depicted below, taken from the Enterprise Mobile Solution RFP. Deltek will continue to monitor Virginia and other states' procurement activity related to revitalization of child welfare information technology.