Frequently Asked Questions
Stakeholder Briefing
Q: Will there be dedicated support to assist County Admins with configuration?
A: Support will be provided for all Product Simulation users via a Service Desk. The specific support model is still being finalized, and more information will be shared as those details are confirmed.
Q: Where in CWS-CARES can workers document a relative's contact history and chosen level of involvement with a child?
A: Family information in the Person Profile screen is documented under the 'Relationships' record found in the left navigation, where you can document familial and professional relationships between two persons. Specific information regarding a relative's involvement with a focus child can be found under Family Finding on Search Efforts within a case.
Q: Is there a group at the State level providing feedback on the health section of CWS-CARES?
A: The Case Management team worked with case management constituent counties to gather input on pain points for documenting health and education information in CWS/CMS, and also received documentation from prior public health workgroups. The team is reviewing End User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3 feedback related to the Health and Education Passport (HEP), and all feedback provided during Production Simulation will also be reviewed for inclusion in development.
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.
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: 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: Are the Training Open Office hours the same as the Office Hours being held for EUST 3?
A: The office hours are different for EUST as they are slated for individuals who are enrolled in participating in EUST 3 whether that be admin, general, or report. The Training Office Hours are specific to answering county questions about the Training Curriculum Assignments for the planning of virtual instructor-led training for CWS-CARES V1 Go Live.
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.