Frequently Asked Questions
Training
Q: Will counties be able to track completion and usage of On-Demand training through reports or dashboards, and who will have access?
A: CWS-CARES Training Coordinators will work with Organization Training Coordinators to determine the cadence of reports needed to monitor registration and course completion. Organization Training Coordinators also have access to the Learning Management System (LMS) to retrieve the reports they need.
Q: Will On-Demand training content be available before, during, and after the 12-week training window, and how long will it remain available?
A: The current timeline has On-Demand beginning mid-June and closing at the beginning of October.
Q: Will On-Demand modules be mapped to the same role-based curriculum used for Instructor-Led Training (ILT)?
A: On-Demand roles have preset courses associated with them. The CWS-CARES Team will work with organizations to identify additional courses needed for individuals registered for Instructor-Led Training (ILT) sessions whose role is not listed among the target audience.
Q: Can counties meet more frequently with CARES Training Coordinators than monthly due to time-sensitive planning needs?
A: Yes. Additional meetings will be scheduled between monthly meetings, especially as implementation timelines approach.
Q: How will counties manage training registration given staff turnover and changing assignments?
A: Registration processes will be determined by each county. Some counties may centralize registration through Organization Training Coordinators, while others may have employees self-register.
Q: Will CWS-CARES look different from CWS/CMS?
A: Yes. CWS-CARES will look and feel very different from CWS/CMS. CWS/CMS is a Windows-based, mainframe-dependent system, while CWS-CARES is a modern, web-based system built using Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) technology on Salesforce. Users new to Salesforce are encouraged to take the Salesforce navigation training before the CWS-CARES-specific training. CWS-CARES also introduces expanded features and integrations, including connections with Structured Decision Making (SDM), Case Management Assessment (CMA), and Foster Care Eligibility and Determination (FCED), with a more modern interface designed to make day-to-day tasks easier.
Q: Will counties be able to view and track their own staff's completion of Production Simulation training?
A: Yes. A tracking system will be provided for counties to track their staff's completion of training.
Q: How can counties confirm whether they are scheduled for training?
A: To confirm whether a county is scheduled for training, reach out to the respective workgroup based on the activity type. For Forms or Reports activities, contact the CARES Analytics Transition (CAT) Workgroup at osicwdsanalyticstransition@osi.ca.gov or the CARES Forms Workgroup at otsicwdscaresforms@otsi.ca.gov.
Q: What is the plan to implement the feedback provided during Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST), considering the upcoming code freeze on July 30, 2026, and what will be the impact on training material, considering training materials are due in June 2026?
A: Feedback will be implemented based on priority and severity, guided by the determination type assigned to each item. Items identified as high‑priority or critical will be addressed before code freeze whenever possible.
Q: Once county data is loaded into Production Simulation, will there be an environment available with mock data that counties can use when sharing screens with each other without data showing?
A: The Project is finalizing the plan to make the Training environment available and will share more details in a formal communication once they become available.