State analysts and the agency briefed the subcommittee on the comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) replacement for CYFD’s legacy case management system.

Emily Hilla, LFC analyst for IT and DoIT, said the CCWIS procurement began in November 2017 with an initial estimated cost of $36 million and an original end date of October 2022. “However, we are looking at a closeout date now of November 2027 with a total estimated cost of $90,400,000,” Hilla said, adding the project includes an expected blended federal match rate of roughly two‑thirds.

Why it matters: CCWIS is intended to replace a 25‑year‑old legacy system and meet federal reporting requirements, improve performance tracking (time to permanency, referral timelines, recidivism) and support drawdown of federal funds. LFC staff said the system will enable better quarterly performance data for oversight and program evaluation.

Timing and scope: Hilla and the agency said the state will be able to use portions of the system in early 2026, with a go‑live scheduled for mid‑February 2026 and a contract closeout window into 2027 to resolve post‑go‑live adjustments. Secretary Casados described scope changes during contract negotiation—most notably adding juvenile justice to the CCWIS scope—which delayed signing and increased costs.

Implementation risks discussed: legislators pressed for the system’s ongoing maintenance cost and for assurance the state had budgeted annual operations. LFC staff said they did not have a final annual maintenance figure in the briefing but will request it from the agency. The committee also discussed prior state experiences in other jurisdictions where large child‑welfare IT projects were abandoned or restructured.

Ending: Committee members asked for an updated implementation schedule, a clear statement of recurring maintenance costs and an evaluation plan showing how CCWIS data will be used to track Legistat performance measures.