After a decade of Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) modernization efforts and more than $2.2 billion invested nationwide, many states are still working to bring modern child welfare systems into operation. According to a recent federal issue brief, fewer than one-third of CCWIS projects are fully operational, with many initiatives remaining in development for six to eight years.

While these findings highlight challenges, they also raise an important question: What differentiates those that have already implemented CCWIS from those that remain in development?

Arizona and Idaho provide compelling examples of what that success can look like. Their experiences offer practical lessons for child welfare agencies seeking to move from investment and planning to implementation and measurable results. In his new brief, “What Idaho and Arizona Can Teach Us About Moving CCWIS Projects from Investment to Implementation,” Brian Delaney, Senior Consultant at PCG, examines why many CCWIS modernization efforts remain in development while others have reached implementation.

“We’ve spent years talking about the challenges associated with CCWIS implementation. What interests me most now is understanding what separates the states that reach implementation from those that remain stuck in development,” Delaney, author of the brief, explains. “The lessons from Arizona and Idaho suggest that success often comes down to leadership decisions, disciplined execution, and a willingness to focus on progress over perfection.”

Lessons From States That Reached Implementation

The experiences of Arizona and Idaho point to two leadership-driven factors that helped drive successful implementation:

• Set Realistic Expectations
  Rather than attempting to replicate every legacy process through customization, successful states focused on implementing functional, configurable solutions. Idaho identified the adoption of an existing system as a key success factor because it enabled the state to prioritize business process improvement rather than recreating decades of established workflows. By focusing on essential capabilities and embracing operational improvements where appropriate, leaders reduced complexity, controlled scope, and accelerated implementation.
• Protect Programs from Disruption
  CCWIS initiatives often span several years and face inevitable challenges, including leadership transitions, changing priorities, staffing shortages, and procurement delays. Arizona and Idaho maintained progress by planning for these risks, minimizing avoidable delays, and leveraging executive leadership to resolve barriers before they threatened project success.

Turning Modernization Goals into Measurable Results

PCG helps child welfare agencies navigate the complexities of modernization by providing strategic planning, governance support, project management expertise, and implementation guidance. By helping states maintain alignment, manage change, and keep projects moving forward, PCG supports agencies as they transform modernization investments into operational success.

Learn More:

• Read “What Idaho and Arizona Can Teach Us About Moving CCWIS Projects from Investment to Implementation”
• Read “Tools to Strengthen CWCA Relationships with CCWIS”
• PCG’s Human Services Solutions

About the Author

Brian Delaney, Senior Consultant

Brian Delaney is a Senior Consultant at PCG who works with child welfare agencies on CCWIS modernization, Title IV-E claiming, and program improvement initiatives. Having supported states through planning, implementation, and operational transformation efforts, he focuses on helping agencies balance technology modernization with the realities of day-to-day child welfare operations. His work centers on practical strategies that help states move from vision and investment to measurable results.