Frequently Asked Questions
Training
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.
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: Can small counties partner with neighboring counties for Instructor-Led Training (ILT)?
A: The Project is open to counties partnering for training. The unique needs of each county will be discussed during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings.
Q: If counties choose not to select TTTs, will 2 trainers still be deployed per county?
A: CWS-CARES Trainers will deliver Instructor-Led Training (ILT) to all organizations based on the Organization Training Plan. If an organization prefers that CWS-CARES Trainers lead its ILT, the appropriate number of trainers will support the organization.
Q: How will counties handle limited or no training spaces in certain counties?
A: We will discuss the unique needs of each county during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings.
Q: Can experienced trainers skip the second week of Train-the-Trainer (TTT)?
A: No. All Train-the-Trainer (TTT) participants complete 40 hours of On-Demand training and two weeks of Instructor-Led Training (ILT) curriculum. The second week is a teach-back opportunity that helps identify and correct misconceptions, fine-tune instructional practices, and allow feedback from CWS-CARES Trainers to promote fidelity in content presentation.
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: If counties provide laptops, can Bay Area Academy provide the training space (e.g., Emeryville location)?
A: We will discuss the unique needs of each county during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings and work with Organizations to determine the best method and locations for training.
Q: If counties can secure more than one training lab, can OTSI provide multiple trainers simultaneously?
A: CWS-CARES Trainers will deliver Instructor-Led Training (ILT) to all organizations based on the Organization Training Plan. Where an organization secures more than one training lab, the Project will work with the organization to support the appropriate number of trainers.