To: CARES SPOCs, Technical Contacts, Training Contacts, Implementation Coordinators, Training Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, Probation Leadership, and State Leadership:
To prepare users for Instructor-Led Training (ILT), access to the CWS-CARES Training Environment (CARES 104) will be provisioned in a phased approach beginning tomorrow, July 29, 2026. Early access is being provided so users can confirm their login and complete any required account setup before ILT begins. Users will receive notification emails with required actions according to the following schedule:
Provisioning Schedule
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
- Los Angeles County
- Napa County
- Santa Barbara County
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- All remaining counties, tribes, probation agencies, and CDSS
As noted in prior communications, county-specific rollout messages will not be sent; impacted users will receive the system-generated onboarding emails only.
Action Required: Complete Onboarding Steps to Confirm Access
Users will receive two system-generated onboarding emails. Complete the steps below immediately to ensure access is confirmed before ILT begins:
- “Welcome to CWS CARES” from no-reply-test@cares.cwds.ca.gov (Okta)
- Integrated counties/organizations: this email confirms access has been granted. No action required.
- Non-integrated counties/organizations (new or reactivated users): click the link to set your password. The link expires in 7 days for new users and 1 day for reactivated users.
- “Finish changing your Salesforce account’s email address” from QA_SUPPORT@salesforce.com
- Sent only to users in counties implementing email domain changes. Click the verification link within 72 hours to confirm the change.
Prior to ILT: Continue Using the Production Simulation Environment (CARES 100)
The Training Environment (CARES 104) should be used only for guided ILT activities per your county’s training schedule. Early access is provided to confirm login and complete setup only — not for practice, exploration, or workflow activities.
To continue preparing for ILT, organizations should continue using the Production Simulation environment (CARES 100) to:
- Complete OnDemand learning modules
- Continue pre-ILT readiness activities*
* Users who have already completed Self-Paced Training prerequisites in the Training Environment (CARS 104) are not expected to complete them again.
Thank you for your ongoing collaboration as we prepare for statewide ILT.
Action Required:
Complete onboarding steps once your orgaization receives access to the Training Environment (CARES 104).
If you have any questions, need clarification, or have any accessibility issues, please contact Customer Relations.
Security Protocols for Prod Sim Case Data
The Prod Sim environment contains converted CWS/CMS cases reflecting actual system data as of April 17th; because this includes real, sensitive PII, all case information must be strictly protected or redacted.
To protect CWS-CARES case data, please follow these important security guidelines when working with our support teams:
- Redact Ticket Info: Do not send PHI, PII, or confidential case details to the Service Desk via email or ticket. Sensitive and confidential data cannot be stored in the ticketing system.
- Secure Screen Shares: During support-requested screen shares, limit attendees to essential personnel only. Recording of sensitive information is strictly prohibited.
- Consult for Tier 3 Transfers: If Tier 3 support needs sensitive data, use secure transmission methods. Contact your county Privacy Officer or the CWDS ISO if you need assistance with secure routing.
We appreciate your dedication to protecting the safety and privacy of vulnerable children and families while we work together to support your needs.
