Frequently Asked Questions
Production Simulation
Q: Would there be a change in training dates and plans with the change to Production Simulation testing?
A: No, the changes to Production Simulation testing will not affect the training schedule and dates that was shared.
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: Is there a specific number of participants expected during Production Simulation?
A: All counties are expected to engage in Production Simulation. The state is working on getting an All County Letter (ACL) that will outline that guidance. We will continue to communicate about this through all county channels.
Q: Will data entered or changed in the Production Simulation environment be saved or written back to CWS/CMS?
A: CWS/CMS production data will be loaded into the Production Simulation environment, but updates or changes will not be automatically saved in CWS/CMS. Any changes will be lost each time the Production Simulation environment is refreshed with new data. Please note that data entered into the Production Simulation will not transfer to CWS/CMS. Since the simulation is strictly a practice environment, CWS/CMS remains the sole statewide system of record. Consequently, any data required for official records will still require entry into CWS/CMS.
Q: Will counties be expected to participate in Production Simulation?
A: Yes, there is an expectation for engagement in Production Simulation. The state is working on getting an All County Letter (ACL) that will outline that guidance (aiming to get it out ASAP). We will continue to communicate about this through all county channels.
Q: Will the State set up all county users/teams/caseloads/offices in Production Simulation?
A: Yes, we will work with your county admin person to set up those users with the exact permission settings they should have and validate that they are correct.
Q: After Go-Live, will there be a procedure manual on how to use CWS-CARES?
A: Yes, we are continuing to work on plans for training; there will be a Procedure Manual with "Cheat Sheets" that you can utilize as you're training.
Q: What is the actual planned start date in October 2026?
A: The planned go-live date for CWS-CARES is October 26, 2026. This is subject to final readiness approval by the CWS-CARES Board of Directors.
Q: Will instructions be provided on how to open tickets in the new Help Desk service?
A: Yes, we are setting up a Service Desk County Advisory Committee (CAC) to work through the ticketing process and service level expectations. This CAC will include county/project representatives and the focus is operational county and state coordination, incidents and escalations, defect prioritization, business continuity, and knowledge base.
Q: Will the CWS-CARES project provide guidance on which permissions users will need for Production Simulation?
A: Guidance will be provided as to what various CWS-CARES users will need for permissions in Production Simulation.