DCF Announces Contracts Awarded to Modernize State’s Child Welfare System
New System Will Help Agency Work More Efficiently, Effectively
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced on July 22, 2025, three contracts have been awarded for the department’s new Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS). The CCWIS project will modernize DCF’s child welfare information systems and develop interfaces between the various agencies serving DCF’s Prevention and Protection Services (PPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) programs.
Many states are pursuing CCWIS projects. Kansas’ CCWIS project will consolidate the functions of the agency’s multiple legacy information systems – most of which are based on 20th century technology – into a single, integrated solution that is flexible and collaborative, streamlining work processes and services for employees, partnering agencies, and clients.
The three new contracts joining the DCF project team include: Design, development, and implementation (DDI); independent verification and validation (IV&V); and quality assurance (QA). The three selected vendors will work with the DCF CCWIS project team to develop and implement the new system.
Design, Development, and Implementation Contract
The DDI contract is the largest contract for the project. This contractor will work alongside DCF staff to develop and roll out the new system. Eleven bids were received for the DDI RFP. RedMane Technology LLC, a Chicago-based software solutions and systems integration company, was selected during the competitive bid process and has been awarded a $44 million contract to design, develop, and implement the department’s CCWIS.
Since 2000, RedMane has created software solutions to help health and human services organizations implement, modernize, and optimize systems for child welfare, child support, and critical case management.
Independent Verification and Validation Contract
Maximus US Services, Inc. has been selected as the IV&V vendor. Maximus brings 23 years of experience, providing IV&V and real-time objective assessment services to the CCWIS project as well as independent oversight of the DDI contractor’s project performance and adherence to schedules and scope of work. The contract award amount is $2,192,200.
Quality Assurance Contract
CSG Government Solutions, headquartered in Chicago, has been selected as the Quality Assurance (QA) vendor for DCF’s CCWIS project. The CSG team offers 25 years of experience delivering quality assurance services for complex health and human services agencies across the country, including multiple active CCWIS projects.
Under the awarded contract valued at $4,745,760, CSG will provide quality analysis of the project’s output, validate system functionality, and ensure Kansas receives the system as contracted.
“A modern and adaptable information technology infrastructure system will help our employees and partners seamlessly work together to better serve Kansans,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “We’re happy to be working with RedMane, Maximus, and CSG to bring the information technology side of Kansas’ child welfare system into the 21st century.”
Benefits of a CCWIS
The new CCWIS will replace multiple older systems, eliminating redundancy and standardizing practice and service delivery statewide. The CCWIS solution will better support key child welfare functions such as management of client files, intake functions, ongoing case management, visitation report entries, court record production, comprehensive reporting, and decision support processing.
Other key benefits may include:
- Improved interfaces with Title IV-A (TANF), Title IV-D (Child Support Enforcement), Title XIX (Medicaid), and the State’s financial and administrative systems;
- Better data sharing with key community partners, including courts, schools, law enforcement, and other state agencies;
- Data accuracy and timeliness.
Once implemented, the CCWIS solution will be fully compliant with the CCWIS Final Rule and subsequent communications by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
“This project aligns with our mission to protect children and promote healthy families by transforming our dated child welfare information technology systems into a modern, adaptable ecosystem that will provide the right services and supports needed to help support the well-being of Kansas children and families,” Howard said.
Process and Funding
DCF has spent the past few years planning for the new CCWIS. The project is expected to cost a total of $100 million over the estimated four-year development period. Approximately 50% of the total cost will come from the State General Fund and 50% from Federal IV-E funds.
During the 2024 Legislative session, Governor Laura Kelly requested, and the Kansas Legislature approved, an enhancement request for an additional $17 million per year for four years starting in FY2025. This $68 million of additional funding, along with $32 million from the base budget, will provide $100 million over the next four years to finish the development. The total cost includes contracts for DDI, QA, and IV&V vendors as well as costs for internal salaries, staffing contractors, travel, training, and other required contracts.
Timeline
Project initiation is anticipated to begin immediately now that all contracted partners have been approved by ACF and the State of Kansas. The DDI contract, the centerpiece of the project, is for four base years and includes three optional 36-month renewals.
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What’s the right plan for your child?
Open to all parents and caregivers of children with special needs (any physical or behavioral difference)— whether you’re just starting out or looking to better understand the system.
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
Guest Speaker: Tonya Barnes, USD 234 Special Education Director
