CWS-CARES Public Library
California Department of Social Services (CDSS): CWS-CARES Program Sponsor Overview
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is the project sponsor and participates in various areas of the CARES project. Subject matter experts from Accounting, Fiscal, Legal and Program provide input and policy guidance on development activities.
The Child Welfare System Branch (CWSB) is responsible for representing the CDSS at Child Welfare Digital Services (CWDS). The branch chief wears multiple hats including sitting on the CWDS Executive Leadership Team. Five of the staff are Service Managers and work directly with the Product Delivery Team to develop functionality to support case management, external stakeholder coordination, financial management, resource family approval, resource management, reporting and metrics. Staff research child welfare regulation, statute, and county letter guidance to ensure CARES supports current child welfare policy and practice to comply with the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) requirements.
The team works directly with multiple tribes to identify how CARES will support users in meeting the Indian Child Welfare Act requirements. Working directly with counties, the team identifies external or ancillary systems to ensure business operations will not be impacted when CARES goes live. The team also provides fiscal oversight to the CARES project and conducts biennial data quality reviews as required by CCWIS. Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.