Child Support Modernization

The Bureau of Child Support (BCS) is excited to continue work on the Child Support Modernization (CSM) project. The purpose of the CSM project is to modernize the child support program and related child support automated systems – such as Kids Information Data System (KIDS). CSM is currently in the design phase in which requirements are validated, refined, and finalized, and the requirements are transformed into detailed system specifications.

Overhead view of graphs, pie charts and numbers

The CSM project vision is to develop a child support program that allows state and partner agencies to provide efficient service to customers, while ensuring that children and families receive financial and medical support. 

To accomplish this, the project has adopted a mission to incorporate national best practices that utilize modern technology, automation, and business intelligence designed to meet the ongoing needs of the child support program, while providing flexibility for future enhancements for THRIVE, our new, modernized system.

The project is guided by three fundamental principles:

  • we value and respect the diversity of our customers and partners; 
  • we value data as a key factor to increase operational efficiency; and 
  • we recognize the value change brings to our organization.

The CSM project will impact thousands of stakeholders in over 100 stakeholder groups, including children, parents, and families; employers; local county and tribal child support agencies; judges and family court commissioners; clerks of court; DCF; state and federal partner agencies; private partners, etc.

The project is expected to take up to 10 years to complete. Pre-planning work for the project began in 2019 and included meetings with DCF staff and local child support agency staff to create a matrix of the program’s strengths, weaknesses, obstacles, and troubles. In 2021, the project moved to the planning phase, which concluded in July 2024. During the planning phase, the project:

  • identified detailed solution requirements; 
  • selected a modernized solution for THRIVE; 
  • secured state and federal funds to design, develop and implement THRIVE; and 
  • procured vendors to assist with the work.

The design phase focuses on transforming the requirements into more technical and structured design documentation. Design activities include:

  • validation of requirements to ensure the design, development, and implementation (DDI) contractor understands DCF’s needs and expectations;
  • gap analysis to identify requirements unique to Wisconsin and not included in the source system;
  • joint application design (JAD) and joint technical design (JTD) sessions to document how THRIVE will meet DCF’s needs and expectations.

One of the key results of the design phase is the completion of design documentation, a set of documents and artifacts to guide development of THRIVE.

DCF has developed an estimated timeline of the different phases in CSM. Please note that these are estimates and will change as new information is received.