Frequently Asked Questions
Implementation
Q: Will counties receive the 76 updated and approved ACLs and ACINs?
A: Although the Go-Live date has been adjusted to December 7, 2026 to allow additional time for stabilization and readiness, the Project Team is still proceeding with the planned communication schedule for All County Letters (ACLs) and All County Information Notices (ACINs). Many letters will be released on October 23, and all remaining letters will be in the process of being published on that date. However, some letters may extend further to allow time for screenshots and other content that reflects how the system will actually appear at go-live.
Q: Will counties receive a list of the 76 pending ACLs and ACINs that will be updated because of CARES?
A: A list of the pending All County Letters (ACLs) and All County Information Notices (ACINs) was provided to CWDA and County Leadership representatives via email on August 19, 2026.
Q: Will counties receive refresher training, and what can staff expect to learn from it?
A: The Project Team is committed to offering make‑up trainings. We will assess the best ways to support users with data‑entry instructions for the workarounds, which may include providing a desk guide or offering a webinar overview.
Q: Will an ACL or ACIN be issued to explain the workarounds and clarify what is expected when using them?
A: Workarounds are temporary steps that allow counties to continue capturing and tracking essential data until the final functionality is released. The completed functionality will be documented through All County Letter (ACLs), All County Information Notices (ACINs), and errata, while workaround guidance will be posted on the CWS‑CARES website. Sharing these materials online enables faster updates, clearer visuals, and more organized information for counties.
Q: When will Organizations know whether they need to go back into CWS-CARES to update any data entered through workarounds?
A: Weekly release notes will include which functionality is being released and any workarounds that are being retired. To access the release notes, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub.
Q: Where can I find more information on when each workaround will be replaced by full system functionality?
A: Weekly release notes will include which functionality is being released and any workarounds that are being retired. To access the release notes, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub.
Q: Where can I find more information on when each workaround will be phased out or no longer needed?
A: Weekly release notes will include which functionality is being released and any workarounds that are being retired. To access the release notes, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub.
Q: Will the finalized workaround processes be included in the training materials?
A: Final workaround processes were released to counties on September 4, 2026. For full details, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub and access the CWS-CARES Interim Workaround Guidance document.
The CWS‑CARES Knowledge Base has been updated to reflect these finalized workarounds, and all refresher training materials will be aligned with and based on these final processes.
Q: Will step‑by‑step instructions, including screenshots, be provided for each workaround scenario?
A: A list identifying all workaround scenarios was provided at the in-person CWDA/County Leadership/Project meeting on August 14, 2026. Screenshots and step‑by‑step instructions for each of the 82 workarounds was released to counties on September 4.
For full details, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub and access the CWS-CARES Interim Workaround Guidance document.
Q: Will a written document be provided that explains all workaround scenarios?
A: A list identifying all workaround scenarios was provided at the in-person CWDA/County Leadership/Project meeting on August 14, 2026. Screenshots and step‑by‑step instructions for each of the 82 workarounds was released to counties on September 4.
For full details, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub and access the CWS-CARES Interim Workaround Guidance document.