It may seem like a Sisyphean task to take on the monumental overhaul required to fix the DHHS’s defective software, and many would call it a classic example of throwing good money after bad. But they claim to have made some serious headway in recent months. So, at this point we can only wonder, is the CPS software finally on the mend?

When Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services spent $65 million on upgrading their software, people across the state couldn’t help but wonder if spending that much was wise. After all, this is a state with a struggling economy and a rising poverty rate. But when the new system finally went online and agency workers were required to use it in all of their daily record keeping and documentation? Well, the truth was irrefutable. It was a total disaster!

The media reported at length on how much money the state had spent on this flawed software with more glitches than swiss cheese has holes. And the longer it stayed in play, the more issues came to light. The total lack of training for agency workers, many of whom had no idea how to navigate this new software. Foster families weren’t receiving their money on time. Caseworkers were receiving incomplete information. It was terrible, and many families were negatively affected.

But according to DHHS officials, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And it’s not an oncoming train. In a recent presentation made to lawmakers, DHHS officials explained that they had already managed to address almost two-thirds of the glitches and technical problems that plagued the software.

In addition to massive overhauls in the programming, which will streamline and simplify the workflow of agency workers, DHHS has already hosted 171 training sessions for almost 2,300 people so far.

Joint training sessions between the state employee union, which represents almost 3,000 workers who use this software, and the department has helped. This along with other joint training sessions between the department and 33 other private agencies, has made a big difference. After all, many of the issues arose from the fact that no one seemed to know how to operate the software.

So, as of now, there may be hope for the Michigan Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, or MiSACWIS. DHHS plans to continue to train more people in the use of the software, and also do further work to address the complex issues causing such problems for the software.

We can only hope that they get all of their issues dealt with properly, so that in future, the children who need DHHS help will get it. And the families that don’t need their interference can be left alone in peace.