Frequently Asked Questions
Training
Q: When is the Production Simulation date for public health nurses?
A: Production Simulation access will be granted in Phases, with roughly 2,800 users participating in Phase 1 and the remaining county & organization users accessing the Production Simulation environment in Phase 2, beginning July 6, 2026. Some Public Health Nurses are participating in Phase 1, and the remaining Public Health Nurses are expected to be granted access to the Production Simulation environment in Phase 2.
Q: Will the Production Simulation environment be taken down while trainings are scheduled through 10/16?
A: Training is supposed to occur in the Training environment.
Q: Is there a training prerequisite for Tier 1 Support staff to ensure they are prepared to assist county users with resolving CWS‑CARES issues and answering questions?
A: There are no prerequisites for Tier 1 Support Staff. We encourage Tier 1 Support Staff to include County Admins and persons who are familiar with CWS-CARES. Support clinics will be made available to potential Tier 1 Support Staff to discuss details and processes for providing Tier 1 support and escalating issues to Tier 2.
Q: Would time spent by staff participating in CWS-CARES training activities during Phase 1 from May 4, 2026 until July also count toward the mandatory hours of ongoing training requirements for social workers?
A: Yes, the time spent staff participating in CWS-CARES training activities during Phase 1 do count towards the mandatory hours of ongoing training requirements for social workers.
Q: During Production Simulation, will there be an opportunity to make system adjustments or modifications if functionality issues are identified?
A: Yes. Production Simulation is designed to help identify critical issues early so they can be evaluated and addressed before Go-Live. Reviewing and resolving high-impact items will be prioritized, but not all adjustments or feedback can be incorporated due to time and resource constraints. The Project will prioritize items that pose the greatest operational risk.
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: Will there be a "train-the-trainer" approach to get county trainers ready before Go-Live?
A: Yes. Train-the-Trainer (TTT) runs June 15 – August 14, 2026 and prepares county trainers and Super Users to lead training within their own organizations ahead of Go-Live. Each trainer completes foundational, self-paced Salesforce Enablement training beforehand, then attends TTT sessions (estimated up to two weeks, adjusted for prior experience with CWS/CMS and CWS-CARES). Ongoing office hours and a support channel continue through October to keep trainers supported. For questions, contact OTSICWDSTraining@otsi.ca.gov.
Q: Will there be a system where the most updated training materials are available for users?
A: Training materials will be accessible to all Production Simulation users. We're currently finalizing the approach to ensure everyone has the most up-to-date resources, and additional details will be shared as soon as they're ready.
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 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.