Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is the CWS-CARES project communicating information to keep staff such as executives, mid-level managers, and other stakeholders informed about the project?
A: CWS-CARES information is being disseminated through CWS-CARES project teams such as Organizational Change Management (OCM), Strategic Communications, State Communications, and CWDS FAQs. For the latest CWS-CARES updates, please visit our CARES User Resources page.
Q: Will end-users get to practice in a training environment?
A: Yes. Preparation of the Training Environment with “real-life” scenarios plays a vital role in the CARES V1 approach to Instructor-led Training. A fluid, functional CARES V1 Training environment will be developed as part of live, lab-based, Instructor-led Training that includes:
• Data creation for all end-users
• Script development partnering with the Product as a Service System Integrator (PaaS-SI) team
• Data development for key functional areas
• Data creation for Train The Trainer (TTT) trainers
• Data creation for Sandbox/Readiness
• Data creation for trainers to practice
• Data refresh schedule
Q: What types of training are available for everyday users?
A: CARES V1 Training will follow an immersive learning approach to create a comprehensive learning experience to support all CARES V1 user groups. Introductory and foundational CWS-CARES training will begin with on-demand, self-directed, learning for end-users that follows end-to-end child welfare workflows directly within the CWS-CARES system. Instructor-led training (ILT) will expand learning by building upon the foundational training with a focus on cross-functional and complex areas, and individual skill building. This will be followed by Post Go-live support training, including Command Center, coaching (over-the-shoulder) with superusers, and some in-app text help. Training may also include the following:
• Make-up training
• Refresher training
• Administrative training
• Back-end administrator training for each county
Q: What types of training are available for technical users?
A: CWS-CARES will analyze user needs to identify the training activities and resources required to support these technical users.
Q: Is there a training timeline for CWS-CARES?
A: Here are the major training activities planned for CWS-CARES:
• Self-directed Training for end-users: Up to 40 hours of self-paced training completed prior to Instructor-led Training (ILT)
• Train the Trainers (TTT): Early 2026
• Instructor-led Training (ILT) for end-users: Approximately 12 weeks prior to Go-live
• Post Go-Live support for end-users: To include superusers, coaching, and command center
Q: How is Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) supporting changes to business processes for counties, California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Tribes with Title IV-E Agreements with CDSS, and probation?
A: The CWS-CARES project’s organizational change management (OCM) team is working with each group and organization to develop and map “as-is” and “to-be” business processes.
Q: How is the project prioritizing the timely development and implementation of the Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES)?
A: As reflected in the CWDS Project Roadmap, the project has finalized a timeline and implementation approach that prioritizes project milestones. Additionally, the CWS-CARES project has involvement from State and Federal oversight entities that monitor progress and ensure that the project stays on schedule.
Q: What are some benefits of the change to Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) for counties, Title IV-E Tribes, and organizations?
A: CWS-CARES is designed to improve compliance with state and federal policy (CCWIS) and support the improvement of child welfare programs. For example, a worker will now have information currently stored in contact notes or case plans auto-populate in court reports, and CWS-CARES will help child welfare workers stay on pace with their work and make sense of how their children and families are doing. CWS-CARES will have capabilities for identifying missing information and discrepancies for federal reporting and the system is designed to help end-users and clients by automating processes and tasks, streamlining workflows, and providing a more robust and effective engagement platform with clients and stakeholders. For example, CWS-CARES will populate information into forms and reports to save valuable time.
Q: Can you provide a brief explanation of the Child Welfare-Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) under development?
A: Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) is the new system under development for the State of California to comply with Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) requirements. CWS-CARES will be a modern, web-based computing infrastructure that is flexible, scalable, and based on industry enterprise architecture framework concepts. CWS-CARES will consolidate functionalities that are in various systems into a single system and include multiple interfaces with other applications, thus providing users with critical case information more efficiently.