Child Welfare Leadership, CWS-CARES Points of Contact: SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, Probation Points of Contact, Tribe Points of Contact:
This communication is a critical update on the status of the CWS-CARES Project’s Advance Planning Document Update (APDU), specific implementation activities, and the impact of the recent federal shutdown.
Over the last week, an update was shared with county leadership and partners, Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), and Tribes with California Title IV-E Agreements. With the federal shutdown beginning on October 1, 2025, the CWS-CARES APDU has not been able to be submitted to, or approved by, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Given the current lack of approved federal funding and the uncertainty surrounding the federal shutdown, work on specific implementation activities including CWS-CARES Pilot, Process Simulation, Training, and Sandbox will be paused while options are assessed.
CWS-CARES Project executives are conducting discussions over the next several weeks to further define the path forward. We are committed to communicating the final decisions and impacts as quickly as possible.
Immediate Actions and Support Status
- Pilot and Process Simulation: (Note: Process Simulation is not the same as Process Information Sessions. They are separate and unique activities.) Specific meetings and activities for these areas will immediately stop for one month pending further evaluation. The Monthly County Pilot Workgroup meeting will continue as planned.
- Sandbox: Existing Sandbox users will continue to have access to the sandbox and be supported as they are today. However, the Sandbox rollout to new users and all activities and planning related to adding future cohorts are stopped pending evaluation.
- Training: Specific Implementation Readiness/Training meetings will continue featuring potential facilitator changes and a revised agenda focusing on external systems planning, with training topics excluded. More details will be shared soon.
We want to reassure you that significant areas of the CWS-CARES Project are continuing without interruption including prototype and build reviews, Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST), forms, reports, data conversion and external systems activities. All work being performed by your organizations including readiness activities continues in the areas listed above.
The CWS-CARES Version 1 Go-Live Date remains October 2026.
Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we navigate these necessary adjustments. We will share the determined path forward when the executive discussions are complete.
Action Required
Please share this update with all appropriate personnel.