Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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: If a county has a smaller number of staff to train, will they be in training sessions for the whole week?
A: No more than 25 staff are in a classroom, and only those enrolled in a given course attend. Courses are a half-day or less, balancing staff working and staff in training. Staff participate only when their needed courses are offered, so a smaller county's staff will not necessarily be in sessions the whole week. For smaller counties, the Project is open to partnering with other counties in the region.
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: Is there a limit to Train-the-Trainer (TTT) enrollment?
A: At this time, the Project is asking organizations to identify their preferred number of trainers to participate in Train-the-Trainer (TTT). Once the need is understood, the Project will identify the total number it can support and will do its best to provide space for the number each county identifies, as time and resources allow.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum enrollment for Instructor-Led Training (ILT) classes?
A: Twenty-five is the set class size for each Instructor-Led Training (ILT) class. CWS-CARES Training Coordinators will work with individual organizations to discuss class-size needs and the best approach to instruction.
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: Is training going to be narrowed down enough for read‑only call center staff who only need to look up data?
A: Yes. Roles and On-Demand curriculum will be tailored, so read-only call center staff (such as CDSS read-only users) will not need most Instructor-Led Training (ILT) courses.
Q: Will the training schedule account for fall break (for example, the week of October 13–17), which may affect staffing levels?
A: CWS-CARES Training Coordinators blocked out holidays for each organization. The Project would also like each organization to confirm its holidays and any other organization-specific events that may affect training availability.
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.