Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Once CDSS forms have been moved from CWS/CMS to CWS-CARES, who is responsible for updating them?
A: CDSS statewide forms will be maintained by the Project. Organization-specific forms will be maintained by the organization.
Q: Will the Attorney-Client Log be mandatory for counties to use?
A: No. Counties are not required to maintain an Attorney-Client Log in CWS-CARES. However, it serves as a valuable tool for documenting confidential communications between County Counsel and agency personnel. Access is restricted to authorized individuals directly involved with the case (Primary, Supervisor, or Manager), and the log is protected from discovery and public records requests. This helps ensure that essential legal advice remains documented and accessible to relevant staff while maintaining confidentiality.
Q: Can California Department of Social Services (CDSS) branches obtain Tableau licenses and training for more staff than currently use Business Objects, and how will staff access those licenses?
A: CWS-CARES has the CWS-CARES Analytics Transition Workgroup (CAT) with its focus to help Legacy Business Object users to transition to the CWS-CARES Platform. Please email the CWS-CARES Analytics Transition Workgroup for Tableau Training enrollment and other support.
Q: If additional forms are not on the in-scope state forms list, how can counties ensure they are included in CWS-CARES? Will counties be required to add them?
A: The final, in-scope list of state forms is posted in the CWS-CARES Forms Tracker within the CWS-CARES Forms Workgroup Teams Channel (For access to this channel, please email the CWS-CARES Forms Mailbox). Currently, the scope is closed, and the project is formulating a process to capture all requested or newly identified forms. The project will notify CWS-CARES points of contact when this process is in place.
Q: Will it be possible to add new Super Users after CWS-CARES goes live, and what is the process for engaging them?
A: New Super Users can be added/switched at any time. If there is a new Super User after Go-Live, then they can be provided access to the Super User Orientation recording, Super User Guide and all other materials needed for their role by the Implementation Coordinator.
Q: Will CWS-CARES allow counties to pull table-level data (for example, CASE_T, ADDRS_T, REFERL_T) into their local systems, similar to SAP Business Objects in CWS/CMS?
A: Yes. In CWS-CARES, data extraction will be supported through two primary methods: ad hoc reports using Tableau, and a direct connection to the semantic layer. This approach enables counties to extract the data they need to support their local systems — similar to how counties currently pull table-level data (such as CASE_T, ADDRS_T, and REFERL_T) from SAP Business Objects in CWS/CMS. A data extracts overview demo is planned for an upcoming CWS-CARES Analytics Workgroup meeting.
Q: What will replace the CWS/CMS "Delivered Service Log" in CWS-CARES?
A: The CWS/CMS Delivered Service Log will be replaced by Contact Logs in CWS-CARES, which serve a similar purpose.
Q: Will the forms that the state is migrating be available in CWS-CARES once Pilot begins?
A: Yes, all statewide forms developed by the state and identified as in-scope for CARES V1 will be available in CWS-CARES at the start of the Pilot phase. A detailed list of these statewide forms can be found in the CWS-CARES Forms Tracker, located in the CWS-CARES Forms Workgroup Teams Channel. If you’re not a member of this channel and need access to the document, please reach out to the CWDS CWS-CARES Forms Mailbox for support.
Q: Will CWS-CARES include any features that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) tools?
A: There are currently no plans to incorporate AI functionality into CWS-CARES.
Q: Will CWS-CARES allow entry of extended relatives — such as great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles — in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) section?
A: Yes, CWS-CARES includes relationship modifiers up to the great-great-great level.