The Michigan Children’s Protective Services division of the Department of Health and Human Services is getting a technology overhaul that is meant to move caseworkers away from the computer and toward the children they are helping.
The new technology is intended to be streamlined and more effective. It will replace the current system over the next four to five years. The new system is partially funded by an IT development Grant and contracted to Deloitte Consultants, LLP. The vendor has to prove success with the initial rollout to continue with the next phases of the overhaul.
CPS’ new director, Demetrius Starling said, “This change will allow our workers to spend more time with children and families, which is our priority. This new system will provide more reliable information technology to the state employees who investigate child abuse and neglect allegations and help youth in foster care and those facing juvenile justice cases.
Some of the change is spurred by new federal mandates for reporting and data collection. Federal grants are paying for about half of the cost of the development of the new system. The new approach aligns with the complete transformation of CPS. The division has been under federal court oversight for over a decade.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
