LANSING – The Department of Human Services is increasing its contract with the company that created the Michigan Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System by $15.68 million for maintenance and enhancements, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The 10-month program has been under scrutiny because of issues with payments to individual foster parents and private agencies, and workers have complained about the functionality of the new program, which is designed to provide real-time child welfare information to all involved in a child’s care.
MiSACWIS, or a program like it, is required under the modified settlement agreement in a federal lawsuit over child welfare programs in the state.
DHS is increasing its pay to Unisys Corporation, which developed the program, to a total of $76.85 million.
The increases in the contract will be in front of the Administrative Board’s Finance and Claims Committee on Tuesday, where they are expected to be approved. The full Administrative Board is expected to approve the agreement next week.
Bob Wheaton, spokesperson for the department, said $10.6 million is from costs due to maintenance, operations and support services. He said the department will have some maintenance costs every year, though the costs will vary.
Wheaton said there are two other enhancements to the program that were not a part of the original contract, but are now being developed for the program. First, $1.4 million is for a web-based help desk for juvenile justice users.
Second is $3.6 million for planning development for the Child Care Fund.
Wheaton said the increase in the contract did not come as a surprise to the department and it has the funds to cover it. He said it will come from a mix of federal and state funds.
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