Frequently Asked Questions
Financial Management
Q: Given the ongoing problems with payment delays, incorrect validation logic, and data mismatches, what progress has been made on improving FCED?
A: To resolve current Foster Care Eligibility Determination (FCED) issues, development and testing should be completed ahead of Code Freeze, with clear identification of mandatory data fields, automated resubmission and error reporting for interface failures, and full end‑to‑end payment‑processing testing. Additional steps include producing daily reconciliation reports and establishing a process that allows payments for voluntary foster care placements when a petition is not yet sustained.
Q: Will all county rates be uploaded to this system? What about Level of Care (LOC), specialized rates, clothing, and general funds?
A: The Financial Management Team is looking at developing rate tables. However, for standard state rates (Level of Care, Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program, etc.), the CWS-CARES user will select the rate type/subtype and send that to CalSAWS. CalSAWS will receive the rate type/subtype and use that to determine the rate from the tables in its system. The CWS-CARES user will only need to enter rate amounts for non-standard rates (rates that are not the same for all counties), such as clothing allowances.
Q: Will a check be distributed without an aid code?
A: Issuance records used to create checks are distributed from CalSAWS after the Eligibility Determination and Benefit Calculation (EDBC) is run; there is no change to this functionality in CalSAWS.
Q: Will there be an Assistance Cost dashboard and reports for program/fiscal managers?
A: Yes, there will be reports available in CWS-CARES related to assistance costs and caseloads for counties to use.
Q: Will counties that developed some forms be reimbursed for the work that they did to develop those forms?
A: Any forms that have been previously developed may claim CCP funding as development activity.
Q: Would time study for staff be integrated into CWS-CARES?
A: Time study will not be in CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1).
Q: We were informed that a Financial Management Coordinator position is being introduced and that the position is to be filled from an outside entity. Will that individual need to have access to CWS-CARES?
A: Per ACIN I-33-11, the authority to determine who should have access to CWS-CARES is delegated to the county. We recommend that counties work with their county counsel to decide whether or not this position will have a business need to access CWS-CARES in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 827 and WIC 10850.
Q: Will the CWS-CARES Permissions allow counties to limit who can review/edit the Administrative Claim sections?
A: Only users given the county-specific fiscal permissions will have the ability to review their county's admin claim data. All data from CECRIS will be read-only in CWS-CARES so there will not be any user in CWS-CARES that can enter/change data from CECRIS, regardless of permissions.
Q: Will CWS-CARES be directly posting expenses into the CEC or is it just able to read information after a claim has been submitted?
A: All data received from CECRIS will be read-only in CWS-CARES.
Q: Is FFPSA cost reporting in CWS-CARES for federal reporting purposes only, and not directly tied to reimbursement or funding?
A: Yes, that is correct. The cost that will be reported into CWS-CARES is to support programmatic federal reporting requirements.