All SPOCs, Technical Contacts, and CAD Contacts:
The CWS/CMS CAD BusinessObjects (BO) server was unavailable last night, September 8, 2024. It was rebooted this morning at 7:30 AM, and the service was restored. However, no scheduled reports were run this morning, but the scheduler is now running and will catch up soon. Therefore, you may experience some slowness. Please check in periodically for completed reports throughout the morning.
Action Required
Review scheduled BO reports today and tomorrow morning. Rerun the report jobs, as necessary.
Contact Chris Lovejoy if you require more information regarding this issue.
Announcement
CWS-CARES Meeting Calendar – September and October 2024
Child Welfare Directors, Child Welfare Director-Alternates, Tribal Leadership, specific CWDA staff, All CARES SPOCs and Implementation Coordinators:
Child Welfare Leadership,
We’ve heard your feedback that you would like more insight into where organization staff is spending their time on the CWS-CARES project. In response, the CWS-CARES project is developing a long-term, live calendar solution that will be accessible to all meeting participants and leadership. In the meantime, we will be sharing 2-month meeting calendars at the beginning of each month to ensure you have clear visibility into upcoming commitments.
Please link to the updated CWS-CARES Meeting Calendar for September and October 2024. This calendar replaces the previous version and includes all CWS-CARES readiness meetings, including the new holistic design overview sessions and core constituent demonstrations.
In addition to the attached calendar, participants have received Outlook meeting invitations for all sessions through the month of October. Please note: This calendar is point-in-time and subject to change.
If you have any questions, please contact CWS_CustRel@osi.ca.gov.
CWS-CARES Strategic Communications Team
Action Required
None at this time.
Child Welfare Leadership,
We’ve heard your feedback that you would like more insight into where organization staff is spending their time on the CWS-CARES project. In response, the CWS-CARES project is developing a long-term, live calendar solution that will be accessible to all meeting participants and leadership. In the meantime, we will be sharing 2-month meeting calendars at the beginning of each month to ensure you have clear visibility into upcoming commitments.
Please link to the updated CWS-CARES Meeting Calendar for September and October 2024. This calendar replaces the previous version and includes all CWS-CARES readiness meetings, including the new holistic design overview sessions and core constituent demonstrations.
In addition to the attached calendar, participants have received Outlook meeting invitations for all sessions through the month of October. Please note: This calendar is point-in-time and subject to change.
If you have any questions, please contact CWS_CustRel@osi.ca.gov.
CWS-CARES Strategic Communications Team
Action Required
None at this time.
CWS/CMS: Temporary Pause of Data Quality Workgroup
All Data Quality Analysts and SPOCs:
Thank you for your ongoing support of CWS/CMS Data Quality clean up, engagement in the Data Quality workshops, and formulation of CWS/CMS System Changes that support Data Quality improvements. All the work efforts you have been engaged in will have a great impact to the success in the conversion of your CWS/CMS data to CWS-CARES. We are sending this email to make you aware that the project remains committed in supporting county data clean up and encourages counties to continue to leverage the Data Quality portal on the CWDS website for information related to opportunities to continue to perform ongoing data cleanup efforts.
Due to administrative delays, you will see a temporary pause for the Data Quality workgroup monthly engagement starting with the September 2024 planned meeting. A meeting cancellation is forthcoming. The project is seeking to reprocure Data Quality services that will continue to support your efforts. We are hoping to reengage the Data Quality workgroup within the next few months and encourage workgroup members that are part of the CARES Data Conversion workgroup to remain plugged into that effort. We would like to also thank James Sidebotham for his devotion to this workgroup and the extraordinary measurable accomplishments it has made over the past years. Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming month on when the workgroup will reengage.
Action Required
Continue to leverage the Data Quality portal on the CWDS website for information related to opportunities to continue to perform ongoing data cleanup efforts
Thank you for your ongoing support of CWS/CMS Data Quality clean up, engagement in the Data Quality workshops, and formulation of CWS/CMS System Changes that support Data Quality improvements. All the work efforts you have been engaged in will have a great impact to the success in the conversion of your CWS/CMS data to CWS-CARES. We are sending this email to make you aware that the project remains committed in supporting county data clean up and encourages counties to continue to leverage the Data Quality portal on the CWDS website for information related to opportunities to continue to perform ongoing data cleanup efforts.
Due to administrative delays, you will see a temporary pause for the Data Quality workgroup monthly engagement starting with the September 2024 planned meeting. A meeting cancellation is forthcoming. The project is seeking to reprocure Data Quality services that will continue to support your efforts. We are hoping to reengage the Data Quality workgroup within the next few months and encourage workgroup members that are part of the CARES Data Conversion workgroup to remain plugged into that effort. We would like to also thank James Sidebotham for his devotion to this workgroup and the extraordinary measurable accomplishments it has made over the past years. Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming month on when the workgroup will reengage.
Action Required
Continue to leverage the Data Quality portal on the CWDS website for information related to opportunities to continue to perform ongoing data cleanup efforts
CWS/CMS: Major Incident Status – Unable to Authenticate to VPN - RESOLVED
All SPOCs and Technical Contacts:
The California Department of Technology (CDT) reported a major incident, Virtual Private Network (VPN) users were unable to authenticate connectivity. CDT is investigating the issue.
CDT has since reported that the issue has been resolved. The CWDS Infrastructure Team and IBM are testing to confirm that the issue has been fixed. However, if new reports are received of continuing issues with VPN, we will send out an update with the revised status.
Action Required
If users experience any issues with CWS/CMS or with using VPN, please follow your county process for reporting issues or you may contact the IBM Boulder Help Desk at 1-800-428-8268.
The California Department of Technology (CDT) reported a major incident, Virtual Private Network (VPN) users were unable to authenticate connectivity. CDT is investigating the issue.
CDT has since reported that the issue has been resolved. The CWDS Infrastructure Team and IBM are testing to confirm that the issue has been fixed. However, if new reports are received of continuing issues with VPN, we will send out an update with the revised status.
Action Required
If users experience any issues with CWS/CMS or with using VPN, please follow your county process for reporting issues or you may contact the IBM Boulder Help Desk at 1-800-428-8268.
CARES-Live Scheduled Outage - August 17, 2024 | 5 AM - 1 PM
All SPOCs and Technical Contacts:
In support of the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 deployment scheduled for Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the CARES-Live application will also not be available during this CWS/CMS scheduled deployment.
Action Required
If users experience any issues with CARES-Live outside of this scheduled outage, please follow your county process for reporting issues. CARES-Live County Administrators may contact the CARES Service Desk through the CWDS ServiceNow Customer Support Management (CSM) Portal. Alternate methods are phoning 1-855-292-3444 or via email at Servicedesk@cwds.ca.gov during normal business hours. You may also email after hours and a Service Desk representative will contact you the next business day.
In support of the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 deployment scheduled for Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the CARES-Live application will also not be available during this CWS/CMS scheduled deployment.
Action Required
If users experience any issues with CARES-Live outside of this scheduled outage, please follow your county process for reporting issues. CARES-Live County Administrators may contact the CARES Service Desk through the CWDS ServiceNow Customer Support Management (CSM) Portal. Alternate methods are phoning 1-855-292-3444 or via email at Servicedesk@cwds.ca.gov during normal business hours. You may also email after hours and a Service Desk representative will contact you the next business day.
Introducing CWS-CARES Video #2 – CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward
The CWS-CARES Implementation OCM Team is proud to present the second of several videos in the CWS-CARES Video Series. The videos will be under 5 minutes and will showcase the CWS-CARES product and prepare you for the coming changes.
The next video, CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward, was developed with all end-users in mind, expands on the benefits of CWS-CARES from the first video (Why CARES? A Case for Change) and will serve as a bridge to our next video tentatively titled: CWS-CARES 101.
Video Link: CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward
Recommended Action: We request that Implementation Coordinators and OCM Coordinators share the CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward video with all staff impacted by CWS-CARES. We also encourage you to show the video to your teams in upcoming meetings or when someone contacts you to ask about CWS-CARES. We hope you can use this video as a tool to help jump-start conversations with your teams about the future.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CWS-CARES Implementation OCM Team at cwdsimplementation@otsi.ca.gov. We’d love to hear from you!
The next video, CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward, was developed with all end-users in mind, expands on the benefits of CWS-CARES from the first video (Why CARES? A Case for Change) and will serve as a bridge to our next video tentatively titled: CWS-CARES 101.
Video Link: CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward
Recommended Action: We request that Implementation Coordinators and OCM Coordinators share the CWS-CARES: A New Way Forward video with all staff impacted by CWS-CARES. We also encourage you to show the video to your teams in upcoming meetings or when someone contacts you to ask about CWS-CARES. We hope you can use this video as a tool to help jump-start conversations with your teams about the future.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CWS-CARES Implementation OCM Team at cwdsimplementation@otsi.ca.gov. We’d love to hear from you!
CWS-CARES Holistic Design Update
We are following up on the June 19th announcement regarding CWS-CARES holistic design. We know that many of you are interested in learning more about how this approach will impact you and your staff.
Here’s a quick recap:
The October 2026 Go-Live date and scope is not changing.
We are launching a more holistic approach to improve the user experience and deliver CWS-CARES Version 1 (V1).
Highlights
Here’s a quick recap:
The October 2026 Go-Live date and scope is not changing.
We are launching a more holistic approach to improve the user experience and deliver CWS-CARES Version 1 (V1).
Highlights
- Increased opportunities for user feedback and an enhanced user experience
- Users will provide feedback earlier with the holistic design process, in addition to Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST).
- Starting in September 2024, Core Constituents will be able to view a pre-built product in Salesforce that more closely resembles the final product. This preview is a new step that allows users to evaluate the design, give feedback, and identify potential improvements.
- Product reviews now include multiple scenarios for process validation that will cover several related processes. Previously, reviews of individual processes were conducted separately. By reviewing a group of connected processes, participants will be able to see how smaller steps fit into a larger workflow.
- Better user feedback visibility and traceability
- The product review feedback will be captured and tracked for traceability.
- We are implementing a new way for Core Constituents and users to locate and monitor their feedback and each other’s feedback from inception to disposition.
- Adjustments to upcoming Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) phases
- There are four EUSTs (previously three).
- EUST 1 is complete. EUST 2 begins in March 2025, EUST 3 begins in February 2026 with a duration of six weeks (previously four weeks), and EUST 4 begins in May 2026 with End-to-End testing for the entire CWS-CARES Version 1 scope.
- We would like to include a larger group of participants in all upcoming EUSTs (2, 3, and 4) to gain insights from a wider range of users and include other counties in addition to Core Constituents.
- Attached is the updated calendar of CWS-CARES Core Constituent meetings. Participants will receive Outlook meeting invitations for all sessions through the month of September. This calendar is point-in-time and subject to change; we will share schedules at least one month in advance of upcoming meetings.
- We believe this shift towards holistic design will be instrumental in creating a better user experience. We're eager to embark on this journey together and integrate this approach into many aspects of our work.
- If you have any questions, please contact Customer Relations.
CWS/CMS Release 9.4 Reschedule Date Options - UPDATE
All SPOCs and Technical Contacts:
July 24, 2024 UPDATE: The purposed new dates for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 deployment originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024 are either August 17, 2024 or August 24, 2024.
To help us finalize the new release date, all counties are required to complete the attached quick survey. We ask that all surveys be completed no later than Friday, July 26, 2024. Your timely response is essential to ensuring a smooth Release 9.4 deployment process.
Survey link: Rescheduled R9.4 Go Live Date
Action Required
Please submit the survey no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, July 26, 2024.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Due to the impact caused by the CrowdStrike update bringing many systems down, the CWDS Executive Leadership Team has decided to postpone the CWS/CMS Release 9.4, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause; however, it was decided this was the safest decision to avoid complications with the release. This decision willbest allow all counties to fully recover from the impact of the major CrowdStrike incident before pushing out the release to CWS/CMS workstations.
The new date for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 is still to be determined. An update will be sent out as soon as the new release date has been finalized.
Additional updates will be sent out as new information is received.
Action Required
No action regarding CWS/CMS Release 9.4 needed at this time. Release activities are postponed until the release date has been finalized.
July 24, 2024 UPDATE: The purposed new dates for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 deployment originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024 are either August 17, 2024 or August 24, 2024.
To help us finalize the new release date, all counties are required to complete the attached quick survey. We ask that all surveys be completed no later than Friday, July 26, 2024. Your timely response is essential to ensuring a smooth Release 9.4 deployment process.
Survey link: Rescheduled R9.4 Go Live Date
Action Required
Please submit the survey no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, July 26, 2024.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Due to the impact caused by the CrowdStrike update bringing many systems down, the CWDS Executive Leadership Team has decided to postpone the CWS/CMS Release 9.4, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause; however, it was decided this was the safest decision to avoid complications with the release. This decision will
The new date for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 is still to be determined. An update will be sent out as soon as the new release date has been finalized.
Additional updates will be sent out as new information is received.
Action Required
No action regarding CWS/CMS Release 9.4 needed at this time. Release activities are postponed until the release date has been finalized.
Thank you for attending the June 26, 2024, CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing
To: CWS-CARES SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators and Child Welfare Directors
Thank you for attending the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing held on June 26, 2024. The CWS-CARES project values your input and engagement as we build the new system. In total, 311 attendees participated in the session – representing 47 of the 58 counties statewide – and CWS-CARES project staff responded to 31 questions.
To review the session slides, recording, questions/answers, and other information, please visit CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings | Child Welfare Digital Services.
To stay up to date on the latest CWS-CARES project news, visit the CWDS website and subscribe to our project newsletters.
We look forward to seeing you during the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing to be scheduled in early 2025.
For questions, please email, CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov.
Action Required
None at this time.
Thank you for attending the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing held on June 26, 2024. The CWS-CARES project values your input and engagement as we build the new system. In total, 311 attendees participated in the session – representing 47 of the 58 counties statewide – and CWS-CARES project staff responded to 31 questions.
To review the session slides, recording, questions/answers, and other information, please visit CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings | Child Welfare Digital Services.
To stay up to date on the latest CWS-CARES project news, visit the CWDS website and subscribe to our project newsletters.
We look forward to seeing you during the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing to be scheduled in early 2025.
For questions, please email, CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov.
Action Required
None at this time.
CWS/CMS: Postponement of CWS/CMS Release 9.4
All SPOCs and Technical Contacts:
Due to the impact caused by the CrowdStrike update bringing many systems down, the CWDS Executive Leadership Team has decided to postpone the CWS/CMS Release 9.4, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause; however, it was decided this was the safest decision to avoid complications with the release. This decision willbest allow all counties to fully recover from the impact of the major CrowdStrike incident before pushing out the release to CWS/CMS workstations.
The new date for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 is still to be determined. An update will be sent out as soon as the new release date has been finalized.
Additional updates will be sent out as new information is received.
Action Required
No action regarding CWS/CMS Release 9.4 needed at this time. Release activities are postponed until the release date has been finalized.
Due to the impact caused by the CrowdStrike update bringing many systems down, the CWDS Executive Leadership Team has decided to postpone the CWS/CMS Release 9.4, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause; however, it was decided this was the safest decision to avoid complications with the release. This decision will
The new date for the CWS/CMS Release 9.4 is still to be determined. An update will be sent out as soon as the new release date has been finalized.
Additional updates will be sent out as new information is received.
Action Required
No action regarding CWS/CMS Release 9.4 needed at this time. Release activities are postponed until the release date has been finalized.
If unable to find a specific Bulletin, please contact Communications.