CWS-CARES Public Library

To support the learning journey from CWS/CMS to CARES, the Implementation Training team has devoted itself to creating, building, and delivering an effective training program to prepare users to complete their work processes in CARES beginning the day of Go-Live.​

Early CARES training audience analysis indicated that a blended learning approach would best meet the needs and preferences of CARES users. The Training team developed the CARES training approach to reflect this preference by pairing on-demand eLearning, instructor-led training and over-the-shoulder coaching support at Go-Live and beyond. The interactive combination of self-paced eLearning with live end-user training offers a dynamic learning journey to support varied learning styles while providing flexibility across Organizations.  

On-demand eLearning is the foundation of the immersive learning experience, with end-to-end CARES child welfare workflows built directly within CARES. Integrated through CARES, the small, digestible units will typically take less than 15 minutes to complete, and include hands-on simulated practice, workflows, and work-related scenarios. On-demand learning will be opened to all end-users beginning Summer 2026 as a prerequisite to live instructor-led training.​

Instructor-led training (ILT) continues the learning journey by focusing on cross-functional areas, complex learning areas, skill building, areas not currently in the legacy system such as Resource Family Approval (RFA), Family First Protection Services ACT (FFPSA) Adoptions, and other potential learning needs folded into CARES. ILT will be delivered via a hybrid partnership between the California RTAs, County trainers, Juvenile Probation, Organizations, and the CARES Training team. Trainers will deliver training over the 12 weeks leading up to Go-Live in October 2026. ​

Supporting training materials for Instructor-led training include coaching from trainers and Super Users and Go-Live Command Center Support. More ILT and eLearning materials will be made editable and released to Organizations in 4 cycles leading up to Go-Live. ​

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.