Frequently Asked Questions
Implementation
Q: Will there be training for Tableau?
A: Yes, technical Tableau training will be provided to those who are migrating the current reports and extracts (e.g., Business Objects, Other Org Reporting Tools) to Tableau, and/or participating in post go-live Organizational level Tableau report and extract development.
Q: Will the new Production Simulation environment impact the training plan?
A: Yes, Production Simulation will impact the training plan. The project will be making updates with the training workgroup to take the training plan impact into consideration.
Q: Has the Go-Live Support Group been replaced, and what should counties know about the transition?
A: The Service Desk County Advisory Committee (CAC) now replaces the Go-Live Support Group. To maintain continuity, the February 3rd announcement suggests that counties include their former Go-Live Support members if they choose to participate in the Service Desk CAC.
Q: When will the Production Simulation environment go live?
A: The Production Simulation environment went live on June 8th, 2026. This environment will remain active until CWS-CARES Version 1 goes live.
Q: When will the legacy data layer be available?
A: The Legacy Data Layer is available in CWS-CARES environments. Documentation is included in the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary and SqlDBM. County Developers have access to this in CARES102 (CountyDev) and this feature will be included in the Production Simulation environment once this is made available to the counties.
Q: What are the revised training approaches under consideration for CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1)? Will there still be any Instructor-led training offered?
A: CARES V1 uses a blended, role-based training approach that combines self-paced and live learning, so staff are trained on the functions and workflows specific to their role. Each staff member begins with foundational self-paced online (Salesforce Enablement) training, with the time required varying by role. Instructor-led training remains a core part of this approach and is still offered, through both in-person and virtual sessions tailored for county, state, and specialized program staff. Most staff will need one to three days of instructor-led training depending on their role. Training rolls out in two phases: Train-the-Trainer, beginning June 15, 2026, followed by End-User Training, beginning August 3, 2026. For more information, contact OTSICWDSTraining@otsi.ca.gov.
Q: Are there any plans for a visitation module in CWS-CARES?
A: Yes, visitation will be included in CWS-CARES. We are planning the ability to document data related to visits attended, cancelled, and rescheduled. We are also including the ability to document a visitation quality rating based upon the SDM definitions of visitation quality. Scheduling visits will not be part of CWS-CARES in this first version. However, we will include the ability to document and track efforts to schedule visitation.
Q: Will CWS-CARES interface with Binti?
A: Binti is not an approved interface for CWS-CARES V1. CWS-CARES V1 will include complete RFA functionality.
Q: Will Organizations have the flexibility to use their preferred virtual meeting platform, or will all meetings need to be conducted over WebEx?
A: In general, the State uses WebEx, but we have to be flexible to meet our organization's needs. The RUGs meetings belong to the counties and they use the format they prefer.
Q: Are the data mapping validation sessions cumulative?
A: No, data mapping validation sessions are not cumulative. Each session reviews a specific set of tables, and counties may attend sessions independently.