The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) secured federal approval for its Implementation Annual Planning Document (IAPD) in December 2023, with the latest update approved on October 15, 2024. The IAPD guides the development of the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) to ensure federal compliance while supporting a modular system tailored to VDSS’s business needs.

VDSS’s procurement team is finalizing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a platform-agnostic CCWIS solution. In partnership with Ernst & Young (EY), VDSS is developing the RFP scope, service level agreements, and requirement traceability to attract a vendor aligned with agency goals.

Preliminary efforts continue as the department prepares for vendor selection, including completing initial data cleanup and standardization in January 2025. Internal groups, such as the Data Governance Council and CCWIS Advisory Group, remain engaged in readiness activities.

Organizational change management planning progressed with the completion of Phase 1 of the Human Centered Design (HCD) consultation. Deliverables such as personas, journey maps, and business workflows will inform the RFP and guide system design. The next phase will focus on reviewing and improving current business processes to support successful implementation.