Frequently Asked Questions
Training
Q: When will Organizations need to indicate that they want adjustments to the Instructor-Led Training (ILT) schedule?
A: The unique needs of each county will be discussed during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings.
Q: The training timeline appears short and may require many staff to be off the floor at once. Will the shorter timeframes be sufficient?
A: The unique needs of each county will be discussed during the Organization CWS-CARES Training Logistics Planning Meetings.
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: If joining another county’s training (e.g., Sacramento), do they have to attend during that county’s weeks?
A: CWS-CARES Training Coordinators will work with organizations that are combining for training to determine the best approach to instruction, including scheduling.
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: 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.