Frequently Asked Questions
Training
Q: Who will provide support for the CWS-CARES Resource Family Approval (RFA) and Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Portal once CWS-CARES goes live, including password resets? How does someone get access to the portals?
A: The CWDS Service Desk will provide system support for the RFA and FFPSA portals. Each portal includes a self-serve password reset option, which resolves most issues such as forgotten passwords. If a user does not receive the password reset email within 24 hours, they should contact the CWDS Service Desk for additional assistance.
Counties are responsible for basic applicant support, such as helping applicants understand how to complete an application or answering general questions.
Portal access varies by portal:
RFA Portal
- Applicants can access the RFA portal through the public link on CWDS or county websites to submit an application
- CWS-CARES RFA Worker or Supervisor may invite an applicant directly only in Emergency Placement situations
- Existing Resource Family Homes (RFH) with an email on file will receive an invitation to the portal
- These actions occur within the CWS-CARES application, and training materials will be provided on how to accomplish this task
- To access an RFA Portal end-to-end demonstration, click the “RFA_Applicant_Portal_-_03-26-2025-_Core_Constituent_Demonstration_for_RFA.mp4” video on the CWS-CARES RFA Demo Videos page.
- Access is by invitation only to Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
- A CWS-CARES worker invites prospective or existing Service Providers by adding or updating the provider record, including email, in CWS‑CARES
- The provider then receives an email to establish a password and update any applicable information.
- CWS-CARES will provide CARES workers with training materials on how to accomplish this task
- To access a FFPSA demonstration, click the “02_23_2026_FM_FFPSA_Portal_CC_Demo_Recording.mp4” video on the CWS-CARES Financial Management Demo Videos page.
Q: Can counties request custom training (for example, on case plans or court reports) during their monthly meetings?
A: Training will be deployed on the agreed-upon dates and schedule. The Project will not be able to accommodate custom training sessions for each county.
Q: Can class count (up to 25) include combined counties and mixed virtual/in person?
A: The unique needs of each county will be discussed during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings, where the Project will work with organizations to determine the best method of instruction, including combined counties and mixed virtual and in-person formats.
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: What if a county does not have enough rooms to meet the 25-person minimum training requirement? Are virtual options available?
A: The unique needs of each county will be discussed during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings.
Q: Are the Instructor-Led Training (ILT) courses that were shared with the Organizations last fall still the same?
A: Yes, the courses offered will remain the same as indicated on the Instructional Design Maps. Due to the high volume of participants in the Core CWS: Basic Structure of CWS-CARES course, the delivery of this session may look different from the other ILT sessions.
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: In the draft training schedule, is the number of weeks shown for each county intended for training all end users in that period?
A: The number of weeks shown are reflective of the ILT courses needed for training derived from the Training Curriculum Assignment Spreadsheets.
Q: If there is self-enrollment for Instructor-Led Training (ILT), who assigns the On-Demand courses, and how will counties know what has been assigned to their staff?
A: Registration processes will be determined by each county. Some counties may choose to centralize registration through Organization Training Coordinators while others may choose to have employees self-register. Organizations can choose the best method for end user enrollment. Reports will be provided by CWS-CARES Training Coordinators to help with monitoring enrollment.
Q: How will Organizations know if their staff have completed the required On-demand courses?
A: CWS-CARES Training Coordinators will provide reports to Organization Training Coordinators. The two will develop a cadence of report sharing that is right for the Organization. Organization Training Coordinators will also have access to the system to pull reports outside the agreed upon cadence if needed.