The consortia that operate the IT systems underpinning eligibility determination and case management functions for California's welfare system are discussing big initiatives that could lead to some consolidation and advanced features, according to meeting documents.
The three consortia are the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) Consortium IV, Welfare Client Data Systems Consortium (WCDS) and the L.A. County LEADER Replacement System Consortium.
The 18-county WCDS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are working with state agencies to expand the CalWIN Advanced Analytics concept statewide. CalWIN is the automated eligibility determination, benefit calculation and management system used within WCDS.
If approved, the statewide advanced analytics solution would cost $33 million over a 31-month period beginning July 2017, according to April 15 WCDS meeting minutes. The platform would utilize SAWS data, state and county data sources, records from the state Employment Development Department, and other sources.
"Traditionally, HHS [Health and Human Services] agencies have deployed business intelligence reporting solutions to perform historical (hindsight) reporting of the 'what is.' The vision of the HHS Advanced Analytics Ecosystem is to enable HHS agencies to perform predictive (insight and foresight) analysis of the 'what if,'" according the WCDS meeting agenda.
The consortia also have requested approval for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance and operation for a combined 58-county self-service portal.
The SAWS Consolidated Portal project would include a new website and mobile app. The consortia purportedly also have discussed joint technical specifications together. The shared portal could lead to more self-service, and participants would not need to switch portals when they move to a different county.
The shared systems conceivably would bring the consortia closer together. California has tried for four decades to build a lone automated welfare system to deliver and support California's major health and human services programs, such as Medi-Cal, CalWORKs and CalFresh.
