A: All data received from CECRIS will be read-only in CWS-CARES.

A: Please note that the below response also applies to counties using Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) recruitment and licensing functionality. 

An APD is required for the initiation, amendment, or renewal of a software licensing agreement. Written approval must be obtained from the State prior to executing any contracts, agreements or renewals. County Fiscal Letter 23/24-12 discusses APD requirements, including when an APD is necessary, in detail. 

All County Letter 25-44 explains that the existing COTS waiver for Binti or ETO Resource Family Approval recruitment and licensing functionality will remain active until CWS-CARES Version 1 is implemented in October 2026. State approval of federal funds for these contracts extending beyond CWS-CARES Version 1 go-live will be prorated, since the software will be ineligible for federal funding once the COTS waiver becomes inactive. 
 
Beginning with ACL 18-47, CDSS has been encouraging counties to include early termination language in their contracts for external systems to enable them to decommission duplicative functionality when required. Decommissioning of Binti/ETO or moving it to a read-only status is required at the time of Version 1 go-live, scheduled for October 26, 2026. If the county is opting to fully decommission Binti/ETO at go-live, counties should review their contracts now and identify when to exercise their early termination language. If the county has chosen to move the software to a read-only status, counties should consider how long their internal contract amendment processes take and determine when to initiate that process to accomplish a read-only status by October 26, 2026. Continued use of Binti in a read-only capacity beyond the CWS-CARES Version 1 go-live date will be at the county’s own expense until it is decommissioned or for the duration of its availability in read-only status.  Costs associated with activities related to converting RFA data into CWS-CARES are eligible for Core Constituent Participation (CCP) funding, as they are aligned with the activities discussed in All County Letter 23-62 and County Fiscal Letter 23/24-03. 
 

A: CWS-CARES will receive client-specific assistance payment details from CalSAWS. That information will be read-only in CWS-CARES.

Note: while CalSAWS sends Assistance Payment information to CWS-CARES, it won't be displayed the same way in CalSAWS and CWS-CARES. That is, if a user looks at an Issuance Detail in CalSAWS and then looks at an Assistance Payment record in CWS-CARES, they will see some of the same data elements, but that page layout and user interface won't be the same.

A: CWS-CARES has finalized development of stories to capture Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS) assessment results, translate them into the appropriate tiered rates, and allow counties to select and apply those rates for children.

Testing with CalSAWS will occur later, as CalSAWS is still building its Tiered Rate System (TRS) functionality. CWS-CARES will automatically translate CANS results into an applicable tier based on the CDSS Decision Support Model, and counties will be able to send those tiered rates to CalSAWS for payment processing.

The timeline for when TRS-related functionality will be available for user testing is currently being finalized, and the Project will notify counties once that information is confirmed.
 

A: CWS-CARES funding allocations can only be utilized for participation pertaining to CWS-CARES design, development, and implementation activities. This funding does not include merchandise. Please refer to the California Department of Social Services ACL 23-62 and CFL 23/24-03 for more information.

A: SafeMeasures will not be integrated in CWS-CARES Version 1.
 
While not originally planned, due to county feedback on the importance of these tools, we adjusted the scope and reallocated resources so that SafeMeasures and SDM® will be integrated into CWS-CARES over time. SDM assessments will be seamlessly integrated into the CWS-CARES platform via single sign-on with CWS-CARES Version 1 in October 2026. The CWS-CARES Project is currently planning the SafeMeasures integration. SafeMeasures will continue to be accessible using the existing login credentials and will be updated to use the CWS-CARES data model. Counties will use the current SafeMeasures web-based application until integration with CWS-CARES via single sign-on is complete. Ultimately, SafeMeasures and SDM tools will be embedded into CWS-CARES.
 
Counties will cover their Evident Change contract costs until CWS-CARES is fully operational in June 2028. The state will assume the costs of SafeMeasures starting July 1, 2028.

A: The CWS-CARES project will cover the costs associate with integration. There will be no additional costs impacting county budgets for these integration activities.

Based on the planned CWS-CARES Version 2 implementation date, the State expects to take over county costs associated with SafeMeasures starting on July 1, 2028. Counties will be responsible for the existing contract and access until June 30, 2028. Counties must continue to submit an Advance Planning Document (APD) to the California Department of Social Services prior to executing, renewing, or amending the agreement or paying for associated services. Please see County Fiscal Letter 23/24-12 for APD submission requirements and details. This means counties shall plan to end their contracts on June 30, 2028, and will no longer be responsible for these costs after this date.

A: Funding for Probation staff involvement in CWS-CARES activities will be covered by the Core Constituent Participation Funding Model, meaning County Child Welfare and County Probation subject matter experts (SMEs) are reimbursed through their local agreements.

A: Payments will continue to be administered through county-level systems.

A: Yes. In CARES V1, Financial Management Funding Assistance Payments and Prevention Services will be specifically included for prevention services and administrative costs including foster care candidacy determinations.