CWS-CARES Public Library

From January 20 through April 17, 2026, the CWS-CARES Project conducted Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST 3), a key milestone on the path to CWS-CARES V1 Go-Live. Participants worked through real-world, end-to-end scenarios across the system, helping validate how CWS-CARES performs in practice.  

EUST 3 engaged a broad group of organization users and generated a high volume of feedback, providing critical insight to strengthen the system. A total of 852 users provided feedback, representing 38 counties. In addition to general scenario testing, EUST 3 included focused testing on the Admin Console, State and Federal Reports, and Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) & Resource Family Approval (RFA) Portals.

What’s Next

Feedback collected throughout EUST 3 will be categorized based on priority and addressed for ongoing project planning. A summary of results will be shared with EUST 3 participants following completion of this process.

We appreciate the time, effort, and thoughtful input provided by all participants. Your continued involvement is essential in shaping CWS-CARES, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership!

For questions, please contact the CWS-CARES EUST Mailbox.

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.
 

The CWS-CARES Production Simulation environment (Prod Sim) is a new readiness activity that will allow users to practice and test system functionality in a digital space mirroring CWS-CARES Version 1. This environment will be populated with real converted data from CWS/CMS, CARES-Live, and RFA Greenfield* to support validation and testing ahead of CWS-CARES Go-Live. 25,000 users from
the 58 California counties, Tribes with Title IV-E Agreements, and State Partners will gain access across a phased approach.

Starting May 4, 2026 Prod Sim will open to County Administrators, Single Points of Contact (SPOCs), Super Users, and Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) testers. Users in the first onboarding phase will begin initial testing and set access and data permissions using synthetic data for the users onboarded later. All other users and county staff will have access to Prod Sim in July 2026 with real, converted data. Please note that updates to data in Prod Sim will not be reflected in CWS/CMS. Prod Sim training and support will be available for end users and more information will be shared as we move closer to launch.

*Converted data from CARES-Live and RFA Greenfield will be available after phase 2 has been onboarded.

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

​​​​​The CWS-CARES project is working in partnership with Counties to develop forms and reports as we approach Go-Live. Our current priority is to address County questions regarding project responsibilities for forms and reports development. A few of these questions are included below, although they do not represent an exhaustive list of questions received.

Which Forms and Reports will be developed by the project?

Check the CARES Forms Tracker on the CARES Forms Workgroup Microsoft Teams Channel for the current list of state forms slated for CARES Version 1 (V1) development by the project. Please note, additional state forms not currently listed on the CARES Forms Tracker will be created by the project after CARES V1 Go- Live. The project, in partnership with CDSS, will identify additional forms for project development, and updates will be shared as this work progresses.

Will state forms built by the project be up to date?

The project will use the most current guidance available from CDSS and the Judicial Council to build each form by CWS-CARES Go-Live. If a state form is updated after it has been built, those changes will be queued and applied on an ongoing basis post Go-Live.

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

EUST is a structured, time bound activity that is intended to allow users from various counties an opportunity to provide user experience feedback on CWS-CARES. The EUST period includes end-to-end testing of scenarios in CWSCARES.

The CWS-CARES project has previously conducted two rounds of EUST and is currently in the process of facilitating the third. EUST 3 includes the following phases:

• CWS-CARES Administrative Console, which concluded on January 30, 2026
• EUST 3 General, which began on February 2 and concludes on April 3, 2026
• EUST 3R (Reporting), beginning on February 23 and concluding on April 3, 2026.
   

The scope of EUST 3 General covers a wide range of core process areas, including Screening/Intake, Ongoing Casework, Placement, Courts, Eligibility, Financial Management, Structured Contact Notes, Adoption and After Care, and Resource Management/Resource Family Approval. It also includes testing for key assessments, and interfaces.

Participation and Feedback Statistics as of February 20, 2026

27 users provided feedback, across 17 counties in CWS-CARES Administrative Console testing, which resulted in 118 feedback items collected. As of Friday, February 20, 2026, the CWS-CARES project has received 569 feedback items from 100 users participating in EUST 3 General, all of which are being reviewed, prioritized, and incorporated into ongoing project planning. Feedback collection for EUST 3 General and Reporting will remain open through April 3, 2026, and a summary of results will be shared with EUST 3 participants in April 2026.

We greatly appreciate the time, effort, and thoughtful input provided by everyone participating in EUST 3. Your continued engagement plays a vital role in strengthening CWS-CARES, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership!

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

In preparation for CWS-CARES Go-Live in October 2026, we are introducing a new key readiness activity: the Production Simulation (Prod Sim) environment. Pending federal approval, counties will gain access to Prod Sim in May 2026, which will allow users to practice and test system functionality in a digital environment mirroring CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1).

Key Benefits of Production Simulation:​​

• ​Open to all 58 Counties, Tribes with Title IV-E Agreements, and State Partners starting May 2026​

• Populated with converted data from CWS/CMS, CARES-Live, and RFA Greenfield​

• Includes full interfaces, analytics, and "real-world" referral/case management

The CWS-CARES Service Desk will launch around the same time to manage incidents and escalations, provide business continuity, and offer general support. The project will also hold trainings before and during Prod Sim to support staff readiness as we move toward CWS-CARES Go-Live.

To further strengthen readiness efforts, CWS-CARES County Advisory Committees (CACs) focused on Prod Sim, Service Desk, and Training were introduced in February 2026 to provide a dedicated forum for collaboration. ​CACs, referred to as "workgroups" in previous communications, are expected to continue through Go-Live alongside existing project workgroups. The purpose of the CACs is to enhance overall county readiness, provide feedback for operational support, and promote collaboration.

Thank you to all counties who have volunteered to participate in the County Advisory Committees! Your engagement, insights, and partnership directly shape a smoother, more successful transition to CWS-CARES.

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

The CWS-CARES Project is in an important phase of hands-on testing. Recent usability testing provided insight into system design, and the next major milestone, Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST 3), is coming in early 2026. Together, these efforts help prepare CWS-CARES for Version 1 (V1) Go-Live.

A Look Back at Usability Testing ​

From October – December, the project conducted two Usability Testing Periods with a subset of counties that had previously participated in EUST 2.  These smaller sessions provided an early look at how new CWS-CARES functionality feels to real users and supported logistics and scenario planning for EUST 3. ​

During these periods, county testers worked through targeted tasks in the CWS-CARES Staging Environment and shared feedback on navigation, workflow clarity, and overall user experience. At this time, feedback resulting from usability testing is unlikely to be addressed during EUST 3 and will instead inform overall CWS-CARES development over time. The primary value of these periods was feedback on scenario steps, testing processes, and Structured Decision Making (SDM) assessments, and user flows, which is informing refinement to the EUST 3 testing approach, scenario design and training preparation. ​

Preparing for Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3​

EUST 3 is scheduled for February 2 through April 3, 2026, with Admin Console Testing from January 20-30. During EUST 3, participants will complete real-world, end-to-end scenarios that span multiple CWS-CARES service areas to assess system readiness ahead of CWS-CARES V1 Go-Live. 

EUST 3 Timeline at a Glance

Activity ​	Training Dates ​	Testing Dates ​
Admin Console  ​	January 12 – 16, 2026 ​	January 20 – 30, 2026 ​
EUST 3 ​	January 13 – February 20, 2026 ​	February 2 – April 3, 2026 ​
EUST 3R (Reporting) ​	February 17 – 20, 2026 ​	February 23 – April 3, 2026 ​

 

An EUST 3 Kickoff Session was held on January 6, 2026 to review expectations, key dates, and where participants can find support. A full kickoff communication will also be distributed in early January with additional details to guide the testing period. ​

Thank you to all participants for your continued engagement and contributions. Your involvement is essential to shaping CWS-CARES as we move toward V1 Go-Live. For questions, please contact the CWS-CARES EUST Mailbox.

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

Data Conversion is the process of bringing existing case information from CWS/CMS into CWS-CARES so counties can continue their work seamlessly when the new system goes live in October 2026. This work is done in close partnership with counties and other organizations to ensure information is carried over accurately and consistently.​

To support this effort, the Project is completing Data Conversion through six cycles, along with two full practice runs (mock cycles), to test and confirm that information moves correctly into CWS-CARES. This phased approach helps identify issues early and strengthens readiness for all counties.​

As of December 2025, Data Conversion Cycles 1–5 are complete, and Cycle 6 is currently underway. A small group of county representatives volunteered to review converted information and share feedback, helping ensure the system is on track for Go-Live. Thank you to the counties and participants supporting this work—your involvement helps strengthen CWS-CARES for everyone.​
 

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has partnered with Opeeka to implement the Person-Centered Intelligence Solution (P-CIS) into CWS-CARES. P-CIS improves care coordination across multiple agencies to ensure that children and youth receive the services they need. 

What is P-CIS? ​

P-CIS is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed to streamline workflow, integrate with multiple systems, and provide real-time access to assessments, analytics, and outcomes tracking. P-CIS allows different systems to work together, enabling secure and efficient data sharing, and eliminating duplicate data entry. 

Signing on to P-CIS with SSO​

Single Sign-On (SSO) is a convenient way to access multiple platforms using just one username and password. Once you sign in to CWS-CARES, SSO allows you to seamlessly access the P-CIS platform without needing to log in again. ​

Actionable Insights with Analytics ​

• Trajectory Graph - Visualize changes in needs and strengths over time, with options to toggle or combine categories. ​
• Story Map - Summarize needs and strengths with supporting context, ideal for Child and Family Team discussions.  ​
• Item Detail - Review specific item scores and notes over time for a deeper understanding.  ​
• Family Reports - Provide families with a clear summary of recent CANS scores and progress, custom built with CDSS and DHCS stakeholder input. 

Sharing CANS for Enhanced Collaboration ​

The P-CIS/CWS-CARES interface enables sharing of Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessments among providers. Benefits of data sharing between agencies include: ​

• Integrated History: Historical CANS from CWS-CARES and Behavioral Health systems are consolidated within P-CIS.   ​
• Real-Time Sharing: Behavioral Health agencies can share CANS with CDSS in P-CIS, enhancing coordination.   ​
• Statewide Alignment: A unified approach ensures consistency across counties and partners. ​

CANS Assessment Features: ​

• Seamless integration of CWS-CARES, P-CIS, and County Behavioral Health agency platforms. ​
• Centralized data collection to streamline workflow, automate notifications and ratings. ​
• Longitudinal analysis to track consolidated CANS data to identify trends and inform updates. ​
• Workflow automation to improve documentation efficiency and compliance. ​
• Customizable security and consent management to enable controlled data sharing. ​
• Caregiver Tracking: Monitor caregivers’ progress over time to improve outcomes for children and families. 

Outcomes for Communities Served  ​

By integrating data across care organizations, P-CIS improves outcomes by: ​

• Greater care coordination among agencies and service providers. ​
• Faster and more informed decision-making based on real-time data. ​
• Enhanced transparency and accountability in case management. ​
• Better long-term outcomes for children and youth through data-driven interventions. 

Originally published in the CWS-CARES Explorer.

CWS-CARES Infographics, Flyers, and Slogans Webpage 

Product Demonstrations Webpage

CWS-CARES Weekly Digest 

Progress and Engagement Summary 

CWS-CARES Public Library 

Portals and Hubs 

Project Newsletters 

CWS-CARES Video Series