Minnesota agency lays out plan to modernize child‑welfare IT, aims to begin vendor work in 2027

Commissioner Tiki Brown told the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee that the Department of Children, Youth and Families and MNIT are finalizing planning documents and requirements for a modern child‑welfare information system.

Brown said the federal government approved the planning advanced planning document (PAPD) on 11/18/2025 to support a 50% federal match for planning, and the department has selected a planning vendor to develop a request for proposals and the implementation advanced planning document (IAPD). "Our plan is that we would submit this advance planning document, for approval in May," Brown said.

Why this matters: the CCWIS planning and the federal approval process determine whether Minnesota receives matching federal funds to replace its legacy SSIS system. Brown said DCYF and MNIT have run 38 focus groups with more than 300 participants to collect pain points and develop comprehensive system requirements intended to reduce risks during implementation.

The department is now refining requirements, performing an end‑to‑end review in April, and preparing for procurement. Brown described governance structures including a CCWIS steering committee with counties, tribes, policy and finance staff, the Department of Human Services, DCYF leadership and MNIT. She said the product team and engagement coordinators are being stood up to manage change and training.

Committee members asked about procurement approach. Brown said DCYF is working closely with MNIT and procurement leadership and does not yet have a preferred vendor; she said the agency intends to use a standard state process while coordinating with MNIT. Several senators urged consideration of an "invitation to negotiate" or other flexible procurement to attract innovative vendors and reduce the risk of expensive change orders.

Brown provided an overall schedule: federal approval of the IAPD is expected to take several months after submission; the department plans procurement and contracting (a process Brown said typically takes about 18 months based on other states) and "we expect that the contract execution and work will begin with the new vendor to begin in 2027." She said data cleanup, conversion planning and readiness activities will continue during the federal review period.

Next steps: DCYF plans the federal IAPD submission in May, a final end‑to‑end review in April, and continued stakeholder engagement and procurement work. The agency told the committee it will return with more detailed procurement methods and a fiscal note as the process advances.