Action Required: CWS-CARES Production Onboarding & Login Verification - Begins September 21, 2026

CARES SPOCs, CARES Technical Contacts, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, and State Leadership:

In preparation for CWS-CARES production go-live on December 7, 2026, user onboarding of CWS/CMS users for CWS-CARES Production environment (CARES) will begin on September 21, 2026. 

What Users Need to Know:

• Login Verification Only: From September 21, 2026, to November 20, 2026, users will login to CWS-CARES to confirm access.
• Application Access Locked: The CARES application tile will remain locked on the user dashboard. Access to CARES application will be enabled prior to go-live and a separate announcement will follow.
• No Individual User Emails: Because onboarding is statewide, individual user emails will not be sent. This notification serves to prompt all users – whether using Single Sign-On (integrated/co-existent) and or a direct account welcome email (non-integrated/dedicated) - to test their login.

CWS-CARES Production Access: Login Instructions by Type (Starting September 21, 2026):

• Non-integrated/Dedicated Counties & Organizations: Onboarded users will receive a system-generated welcome email with the subject “Welcome to CWS-CARES" from: no-reply@cares.cwds.ca.gov Users must click the activation link within seven days to set up their password and security questions.
• Integrated/Co-Existent Counties & Organizations: Users will not receive an activation email. Instead, users test access directly at this link by logging in with Single Sign-On (SSO) using their county-provided domain credentials.

Kickoff and Office Hour Meetings

Two onboarding kickoff meetings and Office Hour sessions will be conducted via Microsoft Teams Town Hall. The sessions have a maximum capacity of 10,000 attendees. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters can be provided upon request; please contact Customer Relations at least five days in advance of the session. Onboarding sessions will be recorded.

Links to the kickoff meetings and regional office hours are available on the Production Simulation Hub. Meeting invitations will not be sent directly to individuals; counties and organizations should review the schedule and determine which sessions their staff should attend.

Available Sessions:

Onboarding Kickoff Meeting:

• Session 1: Monday, September 21, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Join via this link.
• Session 2: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Join via this link.

Onboarding Office Hours:

Action Requested:

   1. Log In: Access the CARES production environment.

      *SSO Users (Integrated/Co-existent): Log in using your county domain credentials.

      *Welcome Email Users (Non-integrated/Dedicated): Follow the link in your welcome email to set up your account, then log in.

   2. Verify Dashboard Access: Confirm you are automatically redirected to the main Dashboard page after logging in.

   3. Confirm Tile Access: Locate the locked CARES Application Tile on your dashboard to confirm your account is verified.

Thank you for your continued collaboration as we transition to CWS-CARES.

Please contact Customer Relations for questions.

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Security Protocols for Prod Sim Case Data

The Prod Sim environment contains converted CWS/CMS cases reflecting actual system data as of April 17, 2026. Because this includes real, sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII), all case information must be strictly protected or redacted.

To protect CWS-CARES case data, please follow these important security guidelines when working with our support teams:

• Redact Ticket Info: Do not send Protected Health Information (PHI), PII, or confidential case details to the Service Desk via email or ticket. Sensitive and confidential data cannot be stored in the ticketing system.
• Secure Screen Shares: During support-requested screen shares, limit attendees to essential personnel only. Recording of sensitive information is strictly prohibited.
• Consult for Tier 3 Transfers: If Tier 3 support needs sensitive data, use secure transmission methods. Contact your county Privacy Officer or the CWDS ISO if you need assistance with secure routing.

We appreciate your dedication to protecting the safety and privacy of vulnerable children and families while we work together to support your needs.