WCDS Consortium Background March 15, 2017

Who and What is the WCDS Consortium?

Background The Welfare Client Data Systems (WCDS) originated in Santa Clara County in 1967 and, eventually, was implemented in nineteen Counties. Together, eighteen of those Counties formed a Consortium for the joint development and maintenance of the shared existing WCDS System software. The Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) (http://www.osi.ca.gov/SAWS/SAWS.shtml) was initiated by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) in 1985 and subsequently transferred to the Office of Systems Integration (OSI). In 1995, with the approval of the Federal funding agencies, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the responsibility for welfare system development and implementation was passed to Counties with the requirement that Counties form consortia to develop and implement systems. The California Legislature initiated the reassignment of responsibilities and placed directive language in the State 1995/96 Budget authorization. The agreement between the State, the Federal and County agencies states that the Counties currently running or scheduled to receive Interim SAWS (ISAWS) should be considered a Consortium and that the Los Angeles County Project (LEADER) should be a second Consortium. The remaining Counties were free to form two additional consortia. The WCDS Counties immediately moved to become a third Consortium that initiated the CalWORKs Information Network (CalWIN) project, thus leaving the remaining Counties to form a fourth Consortium known as C-IV.

The WCDS Consortium 18 Counties and CSAC Support Staff (extension of counties) Supported by external partners: HP Enterprise Services, Inc. is the primary vendor for providing design, development, implementation and maintenance of WCDS’ products. First Data Corporation is the vendor providing Quality Assurance services to the Consortium. No separate legal entity; exists as partnership of Counties (as opposed to C-IV, a JPA); as a result: Folsom site staff employed as CSAC affiliates through annual CSAC contract County or Counties must hold the WCDS contracts (operational vendors, legal services, temporary staff augmentation) Managed by Board of Directors with many duties delegated to the Executive Director and the Operations & Policy Advisory Committee (OPAC)

WCDS Consortium Counties County Size Status County # Alameda Large 01 Contra Costa 07 Fresno 10 Orange 30 Placer Small 31 Sacramento 34 San Diego 37 San Francisco 38 San Luis Obispo 40 San Mateo Medium 41 Santa Barbara 42 Santa Clara 43 Santa Cruz 44 Solano 48 Sonoma 49 Tulare 54 Ventura 56 Yolo 57

What is CalWIN? California Work Opportunity & Responsibility to Kids Information Network

CalWIN… A modern technological solution for efficiently administering public assistance programs and providing quality service to the communities An integrated on-line, real-time automated system with 26 subsystems to support eligibility and benefits determination Supports CalWORKs/TANF, RCA, CalFresh, CMSP, CAPI, IHSS, Foster Care, KinGAP, Cal- Learn, Medi-Cal/ACA, General Assistance/ General Relief and Employment Services programs.

Other CalWIN Facts Supports almost 40% of the state’s total caseload. The largest and most automated welfare eligibility and benefit determination system in the State and one of the largest Welfare Administration Systems in the nation. Supports 50,000+ county employees along with various business partners, in over 850 sites serving over 2.4 million California families.   Processes over 12.5 million transactions daily in less than 1 second on average. Issues benefits to 4.4 million individuals every month! Produces ~4.6 million pieces of correspondence each month; available in 14 different languages. Interfaces data and images with Health Care Systems via MyBenefits CalWIN Portal Code release quality exceeds industry standards! CalWIN averages less than 1 anomaly per 1,000 lines of code, well below the industry standard of 5 to 10 anomalies per 1,000 lines of code

Not Just CalWIN WCDS also manages: ACCESS CalWIN-Interactive Voice Response System (ACW) MyBenefits CalWIN Portal –Apply for benefits & Case level benefit information access Electronic Notices (eNOA); via MyBenefits CalWIN Portal CalWIN Kiosk Capabilities MyBenefits CalWIN Mobile App CalWIN Counties CalHEERS Call Center Other initiatives

WCDS Consortium Operations

Board of Directors WCDS is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of each participating County’s Welfare Director or appointee. The Co- Chairs are selected each fiscal year through a nomination process and alternate in the role as Chair for each meeting. The final decision-making body for the Consortium, providing general oversight Makes high-level policy decisions that guide and direct WCDS oversight of Product Management Develops strategic vision and manages financial components Approves release strategies and priorities Standardizes county policies and procedures Provides direction to the Operations & Policy Advisory Committee (OPAC)

WCDS Executive Director The Executive Director manages the WCDS Consortium systems and administers the WCDS contracts. The WCDS Executive Director reports to, and is directed by, the WCDS Board of Directors.

WCDS Operations & Policy Advisory Committee (OPAC) Functions at the direction of the WCDS Board of Directors; Co- Chaired by County reps based on nomination/election process Makes recommendations to the Board that guide and direct WCDS oversight of day-to-day product management and oversight of project teams Comprised of IT or Operational County staff (one rep from each County) and two Directors Subset of OPAC to serve as the Steering Committee to handle urgent matters between meetings; to include OPAC Co-Chairs and one rep each from a large, medium and small county Meets once a month