Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long will read-only access to CWS/CMS be available following Go-Live?
A: Read-only access to CWS/CMS will be available for at least six months following Go-Live (the stabilization period), after which CWS/CMS will no longer be available.
Q: Will there be any data retention for converted data, and if so is this a one-time activity, or will it be ongoing?
A: CWS/CMS will be available for 6 months in a read-only state, the "stabilization period" after which it will no longer be available.
Q: Are there any screens that have requirements to upload images before being able to save and continue?
A: No. Within CWS-CARES, users are not required to upload images or documents in order to save or continue working on a record. Document uploads are only required within the document upload modules themselves; other screens and modules allow users to save records without attaching documents.
Q: If a client moves from one county to another, will imaged documents and data be moved automatically with the rest of the client's data?
A: Yes. In CWS-CARES, documents attached to a unit of work, such as a case, remain associated with that case. When the case is transferred from one county to another, the associated documents and relevant data remain linked to the case and are accessible to the receiving county.
Q: Does DocuEdge have the ability to open multiple imaging files at a time, for example in a side-by-side view?
A: At this time, DocuEdge supports viewing one document at a time. Users are not able to open multiple documents simultaneously for side-by-side viewing, except in cases where documents are being merged.
Q: Are there size limits to imported Imaging files or storage limits by county?
A: CWS-CARES will allow documents uploads of up to 100 MB. File types must be compatible with CWS-CARES, allowable file types include PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, Jpeg/jpg, txt, mov/mkv/mp4 files. Users will be able to upload files into CWS-CARES using either individual or multifile selection into a case record.
Q: Is a comprehensive list of CWS-CARES V1 functionality available?
A: Yes. The CWS-CARES V1 Scope Summary, available on the CWDS website, provides a comprehensive overview of CARES V1 functionality.
Q: What All County Letters (ACLs) or County Fiscal Letters (CFLs) provide information on training and available funding for counties?
A: CDSS identified the following resources: for training, ACL 25-66 and ACIN I-15-24; for funding, the 2025–2026 County Fiscal Letters (Allocations).
Q: In an adoptions case, can hearing types other than the finalization hearing be documented in the Court section?
A: In CWS-CARES, two active cases will exist for the focus child: a Case Management case and an Adoption case. The Case Management case is where all dependency-related activities are documented, including status review hearings, case plans, monthly contacts, and ongoing case work. The Adoption case is designed specifically for adoption-related functionality, and within it the Court section is limited to documenting the finalization hearing. Other hearing types — such as status review hearings, related reports, memos, and ex parte activities — should be documented within the Case Management case. Counties may determine how work is assigned based on their local business processes: a single worker may be assigned to both cases, or responsibilities may be split, in which case the Adoption worker may also hold a secondary role on the Case Management case to support coordination.
Q: In the adoptions case, are court reports under court section or the documents section?
A: The Final Court Report is created within the Adoption case under the Court section in the left-hand navigation.