FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 21, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, WheatonB@
MDHHS seeking bids for next phase to update child welfare information system
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is continuing to improve its technology to better serve children, youth and families while accessing enhanced data to assess the performance of the state’s child welfare system.
MDHHS is now seeking bids for the next phase to replace its child welfare information system with a more modern system by issuing a request for proposals.
The department is replacing the Michigan Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (MiSACWIS) in a phased approach. As the existing system is replaced, the other portions of MiSACWIS will continue to be used.
MDHHS has already implemented the first phase of a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) that includes functions related to licensing of child welfare agencies, residential facilities and foster homes, and the Michigan Foster Care Portal.
“This new system will allow MDHHS to better access data regarding children who have been abused and neglected,” said Demetrius Starling, senior deputy director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Administration. “That will allow us to provide improved services to children and families.”
To replace MiSACWIS and implement the new system, MDHHS has completed several assessments, conducted research and consulted with other states and federal partners.
The phased approach is consistent with modern best practice for technology development and will increase the reliability of the system while reducing costs for development and operations.
Federally funded child welfare systems were previously required to collect and submit data through SACWIS systems. The federal government is now requiring states to move to the modernized CCWIS to receive full federal funding. Approximately 50 percent of the cost of the new system will be paid for with federal dollars.
Proposals can be submitted on the State of Michigan vendor self-service site. Bidders or the public can view the request for proposal either by creating a user profile on the site or using the guest access button and entering “child welfare” in the search bar.
Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59 a.m., EST, Friday, April 7. MDHHS hopes to kick off the next phase of the project in October 2023.