Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Foster Care Eligibility Determination (FCED)
Q: When the user enters the Child’s or Nonminor’s information, will it continue to populate on the FC 2 and SOC 158 forms?
A: Yes, information entered in CWS-CARES will populate the applicable fields on generated eligibility forms, reducing duplicate data entry.
Q: Will the Social Worker be able to complete and submit the CW 51 (Child Support – Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation) form in CWS-CARES when completing the minor's placement info?
A: Yes, CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) supports generating the CW 51 (Child Support – Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation) form for each parent of the Focus Child.
Q: Is there a way to remind users to request forms? For example, the SOC 161 form must be filled out every six months. Can a reminder be set for the worker to remind them to request/send this form?
A: No, CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) does not include reminder functionality for requesting or sending eligibility forms such as the SOC 161. However, CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) does have the functionality to create a report of Foster Care Redeterminations that are coming due. Counties can also use the Tasks feature to remind workers to generate certain forms at certain times. These features and functionalities alongside county business processes can be leveraged to send reminders to staff.
Q: Will this information be transmitted between the systems in real time or in a batch?
A: The Foster Care for Eligibility Determination (FCED) interface will process transactions in near real time if the user clicks “Submit Data to CalSAWS”. However, if the CWS-CARES user does not do that, then the changes will captured and transmitted in the overnight batch. Additionally, response times may vary depending on system availability and processing.
Q: What is a Request for Information (RFI)?
A: A Request for Information (RFI) is an electronic request sent between CWS-CARES and CalSAWS when additional information is needed to support Foster Care Eligibility Determination processing. It should be noted that the messages are not free text; they are pre-worded options, and as such may require follow-up communication outside of the system.
Q: In the Kin-GAP process map, the CWS-CARES user sends over a change in program before they discontinue the Foster Care case. Do we know what happens in CalSAWS when the "change of program" is received?
A: To process the change in program information, CWS-CARES will send information through the Foster Care Eligibility Record to inform CalSAWS about closing the case. CWS-CARES will also send a new Case Link request for a newly opened Kin-GAP Eligibility Record to initiate CalSAWS opening a Kin-GAP case.
Q: If the same form is created in CWS-CARES and CalSAWS, will both systems have duplicates?
A: No, CWS-CARES will generate forms that support CWS-CARES business processes. Forms generated in CWS-CARES will not also be generated by CalSAWS as part of the interface.
Q: When testing Foster Care Eligibility and Determination (FCED), will the CWS-CARES Service Desk be able to answer questions about CalSAWS?
A: The CWS-CARES Service Desk will be able to assist with some questions regarding CalSAWS, but any issues or defects related to CalSAWS will need to be forwarded to the CalSAWS team. The Project will coordinate with interface partners to streamline that process.
Q: Will users in CalSAWS and CWS-CARES have to keep both systems up-to-date manually?
A: No, information supported by the Foster Care Eligibility Determination (FCED) interface will be transmitted automatically between CWS-CARES and CalSAWS. Information that is not included in the interface will continue to require existing county business processes.
Q: Not all data is shared bi-directionally via Foster Care Eligibility Determination (FCED) from CalSAWS to CWS-CARES. How will workers know what can be transmitted via FCED versus what needs to be manually shared via e-mail or other processes?
A: The Project is working on developing a document and business process guidance that identifies what information and data elements is exchanged between CWS-CARES and CalSAWS. Any information not supported by the interface must continue to be shared through existing county processes. Additionally, the July 2026 FCED Newsletter can be referenced to see which APIs have a unidirectional flow of information between CWS-CARES and CalSAWS.