CC: County Leadership, CARES Implementation Coordinators, and OCM Coordinators
This email provides an update on the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary information previously communicated to External Systems Points of Contact and CARES SPOCs on September 27, 2024.
Current Status:
The CWS-CARES Data Dictionary supports counties and other data partners in understanding the structure, purpose, and usage of data with CWS-CARES. It informs decisions required for assessing external systems, potential system updates, data conversion templates mapping, and the development of county-specific forms and reports.
The initial version of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary and legacy mapping of CWS/CMS fields is ready. This version is an evolving resource and will be updated through future iterations.
Next Steps:
- CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Webinar: The CWS-CARES Project will preview the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary and related materials with a small group of counties to gather feedback. A broader webinar session will be held with county representatives in Spring 2025. This webinar session will cover:
- Navigation of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary
- Utilization of the support documentation
- Use of legacy mapping documentation with the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary
- Publication & Ongoing Updates:
- The CWS-CARES Data Dictionary will be published following the county webinar.
- Quarterly updates to the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary are planned.
- Please note that the next version will include significant changes and updates, such as additional and updated legacy mapping.
A dedicated Microsoft Teams channel will be created for all CWS-CARES Data Dictionary-related artifacts. This channel will serve as a forum for sharing new versions and collection feedback. County representatives will be added to the channel following the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary walkthrough.
Questions can also be submitted directly to the CWS-CARES Technology team's inbox: CWDSDataManagement@osi.ca.gov.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently to ensure the successful implementation and ongoing maintenance of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary.