Frequently Asked Questions
Case Management
Q: Are adoption cases included in the cases that are removed from Production Simulation?
A: The only cases being removed from Production Simulation are cases falling under Sealed and Sensitive.
Q: Will an Emergency Response (ER) worker be able to access the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS) in CWS‑CARES from a referral, or only after a case is opened, and does a CANS need to be fully completed and supervisor‑approved before a case plan can begin?
A: The CWS-CARES Project is currently finalizing its supervisor approval functionality; Currently, CANS is not accessible in a referral. The user would need to promote the referral to a case to include CANS accessibility, which an ER worker will be able to access in CWS-CARES. Including CANS accessibility in referrals will be a future development consideration.
Furthermore, cases plans can begin prior to a CANS being fully completed, but you cannot enter a case plan’s objectives with CANS being completed. This means you can document everything else such as the people involved, permanency goals, visitation plans, agency responsibilities, and Objectives for the Parent/Legal Guardian/Indian Custodian which are based on the Safety Threats identified from the Structured Decision Making (SDM) Safety Assessment. Objectives must be added for the Focus Child(ren) prior to submitting for supervisor approval, so this is the point where a user will be blocked without a CANS Assessment completed. The CANS will also need supervisor approval.
Q: If corrections are needed after an AD 4320 form has been set to final status, does the worker need to generate a new form in CWS-CARES?
A: If changes are needed after the form is in final status, a new document will need to be generated in CARES.
Q: Will the Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System Version 1 (CWS-CARES V1) include a public interface where Resource Family Approval (RFA) applicant families can apply and upload supporting documents and information?
A: Yes. In CWS-CARES Version 1, the Resource Family Approval (RFA) program worker, Applicant, and Resource Family Homes will be able to upload completed forms and documents to CWS-CARES V1.
Q: How does the Expected End Date field on the AD 4320 form auto-populate, and does it change if the form is completed to extend benefits?
A: The AD 4320 Expected End Date does auto-populate to the child's 18th birthday. AD 4320s that are completed to extend benefits would auto-pop to the child's 21st birthday.
Q: Can both Supervisors and Administrators transfer caseloads?
A: Yes, Supervisors and Administrators can both transfer caseloads.
Q: When was the Family Finding module added?
A: The Binti Family Finding module was part of the original scope for Binti data conversion, it was not added later on.
Q: Can we add multiple worker permissions to one user (e.g. Case Management Supervisor and Case Worker together)?
A: Yes, multiple permissions can be assigned to one user.
Q: When CWS-CARES is implemented, will Social Workers/SCSWs have access to CalSAWS automatically or will we need a special request?
A: CalSAWS permissions/access are handled by CalSAWS. Social Workers/SCSWs will have the ability to send data to CalSAWS from CARES and receive data from CalSAWS in CWS-ARES. CWS-CARES does not grant any access to the CalSAWS application itself.
Q: What is the difference between Sealed and Sensitive?
A: Sealed is done based on a court order and is typically after a case is closed, although it is not required that the case be closed. Sensitive is for cases involving high profile people.