A: Counties can expect the September V1.0 Production Simulation release to include a set of upcoming fixes that OTSI is currently compiling and preparing to share. This will give counties a clear understanding of what changes are included and what they should look for during testing.

Once a bug, defect, or story has been fixed, release notes will be updated so counties know when to go back in and retest the functionality. This provides counties with a clear feedback loop and ensures they can validate the new behavior as part of the Production Simulation release.
 

A: The State is still evaluating the availability of the testing environment after Go‑Live, and no determination date has been identified at this time.
 

A: The following Search enhancements were deployed to Production Simulation (Prod Sim, or CARES100) on August 29, 2026:

• The Person and RM (Resource Management) Directory Search now use the “And” operator instead of “Or,” resulting in more precise and narrowed search results.
• In Person Search, the “Sex at Birth” and “Approximate Age” criteria are now fully functional. Phonetic search for first and last names has also been enabled to make it easier to locate the intended individual. Previously reported performance issues, where searches took up to 2 minutes to return results, have been resolved.
• In RM Directory Search, multi-select capability for placement category types is now available.

A: Although the Go-Live date has been adjusted to December 7, 2026 to allow additional time for stabilization and readiness, the Project Team is still proceeding with the planned communication schedule for All County Letters (ACLs) and All County Information Notices (ACINs). Many letters will be released on October 23, and all remaining letters will be in the process of being published on that date. However, some letters may extend further to allow time for screenshots and other content that reflects how the system will actually appear at go-live.
 

A: A list of the pending All County Letters (ACLs) and All County Information Notices (ACINs) was provided to CWDA and County Leadership representatives via email on August 19, 2026.
 

A: The ticketing system helps identify both system defects and training needs by tracking issue trends and reviewing how tickets are submitted and resolved. Tickets stay open until fixes are confirmed, ensuring accurate visibility into recurring problems. Tier 2 follows established workaround guidance before escalating or closing issues, and users retest fixes or tickets close after five business days without response.

Service desk reviews and data analysis highlight where additional user training is needed and whether training-related issues are entering the ticket system. OTSI will also verify that current county messaging on ticket closure aligns with actual ticket behavior.

Through this process, the system provides users with clear updates while helping identify both technical issues and training gaps.
 

A: The Project Team is committed to offering make‑up trainings. We will assess the best ways to support users with data‑entry instructions for the workarounds, which may include providing a desk guide or offering a webinar overview.
 

A: Workarounds are temporary steps that allow counties to continue capturing and tracking essential data until the final functionality is released. The completed functionality will be documented through All County Letter (ACLs), All County Information Notices (ACINs), and errata, while workaround guidance will be posted on the CWS‑CARES website. Sharing these materials online enables faster updates, clearer visuals, and more organized information for counties.
 

A: Weekly release notes will include which functionality is being released and any workarounds that are being retired. To access the release notes, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub.

A: Weekly release notes will include which functionality is being released and any workarounds that are being retired. To access the release notes, log into the System Updates & Release Notes page of the Production Simulation Hub.