New Jersey taps AMS for child welfare system

American Management Systems Inc. has won a $26.8 million contract from New Jersey to design and implement an automated child welfare management information system, the company announced today.

Under the contract, AMS of Fairfax, Va., will provide a Web-based system that will let the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services provide online access to information on every child within its care from any of its offices. The new system is subject to federal review and approval.

The New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services is responsible for protecting the safety, placement and well-being of nearly 60,000 children.

The solution will replace many paper-based processes and several disparate systems. It also will give the state's 2,000 case workers an online risk tool to help them place children in the best care.

Through the new system, caseworkers also will have access to information, such as who has custody of a child or if there is a restraining order in place. The system will support better tracking and control of cases, including required reviews and assessments.

AMS has built child welfare systems for Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. The company also has led design projects in Alabama and Louisiana.

AMS, a provider of business and IT consulting services to government and commercial clients, has about 6,300 employees and annual sales of $986 million.