CARES SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, Probation Leadership, and State Leadership:
In this Weekly Digest:
- One Week Left to Purchase from the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop!
- Registration Now Open for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
- Updated Environment Matrix for User Access
- CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.10 Now Available
- CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
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One Week Left to Purchase from the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop!
There’s still time to order from the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2! The shop will remain open until end of day on Friday, April 17, 2026. Place your orders at: CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2 | Order Now.
The shop is open to all 58 California counties, Tribes, and partner organizations. CWS-CARES branded items are available for purchase using your own funds. For ordering and shipping details, please reference the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2 FAQs and Item Preview document.
Please contact CWDS Customer Relations with any questions. Happy shopping!
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Registration Now Open for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
We encourage you to attend the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing on May 27, 2026! Register now at: CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7 | Registration. Note: A separate calendar invitation will not be sent by the CWS-CARES Project. Please manually add the .ics attachment in the registration confirmation email to your calendar.
All stakeholders impacted by the changes to CWS-CARES are welcome to attend, ask questions, and hear updates from Project leadership. The full agenda for the May 2026 Stakeholder Briefing is available to view on the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7 | Registration page. Updates will include:
- Implementation
- Extended User Scenario Testing 3
- Production Simulation
- Resource Family Approval (RFA) Portal Demonstration
All materials from the March 25, 2026 Stakeholder Briefing #6, including the session recording, presentation slides, and Q&A summary, are now available on the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings page on the CWDS website.
Thank you for participating in our Stakeholder Briefing webinar series! We hope to see you on May 27, 2026 to continue the conversation on the upcoming transition to CWS-CARES.
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Updated Environment Matrix for User Access
Looking to better understand the different CWS-CARES environments? The CWS-CARES Project has developed multiple environments to support testing, training, and readiness activities, each designed for a specific purpose and user group. The Environment Matrix provides an overview of their intended use, access, and availability.
Please note that this is a point-in-time resource located on the CWS-CARES User Resources Webpage on the CWDS website, and information is subject to change as the Project progresses.
View the CWS-CARES Environment Matrix here: WS-CARES Environments for User Access
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CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.10 Now Available
The CWS-CARES Data Dictionary V0.10 is now available on the Microsoft Teams Channel: CARES Data Dictionary under Shared as of Monday, April 13, 2026. Check the Intro tab of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary for the detailed list of updates included in the new version. Highlights included in V0.10:
- CDI Legacy Mapping Layer tab has been renamed to Legacy Mapping Layer
- Alignment of Legacy Mapping Layer tab objects with the CWS_CMS-CARES Conversion tab
- Updates to Columns/Relationships tab based on application development activities
Please contact CWDSDataManagement@otsi.ca.gov if you have any questions.
Stay tuned for more updates to the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary, which will be shared in future CWS-CARES Weekly Digest emails.
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CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
Here’s a quick look at the CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations from the previous and upcoming two weeks. These demonstrations give counties and partners a chance to see key features in action, learn what’s new or coming soon, and share feedback that helps shape ongoing improvements to CWS-CARES.
View all the previous Product Demonstrations on the CWDS website: CWS-CARES Product Demonstrations. Please note, a log in is required to view all recordings.
CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations Held March 30 - April 10, 2026:
- No CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations were held between March 30th – April 10th.
Upcoming CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations Held April 13 – 17, 2026: *
- April 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Portal and CWS-CARES Functionality: End-to-End Portal Demo
*Please note that dates for CWS-CARES Demonstrations shared here are subject to change. Please check the CWDS Meeting and Event Calendar for the most up-to-date schedule.
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CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
Each week, we highlight a common question from counties and partners, along with a clear, practical answer to help you better understand CWS-CARES functionality.
April 13, 2026 FAQ of the Week:
Q: Once we transition to CWS-CARES, will probation staff still access via Citrix?
A: Yes, probation staff will still access via Citrix after the transition to CWS-CARES.
To view all of the CWS-CARES FAQs, please visit the CWDS Website: CWS-CARES FAQs | CWDS Website. Have a question? Send it to Customer Relations at CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov and we will be happy to help.
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Share Your Feedback and Subscribe
Thank you for following our progress! Share your feedback on this CWS-CARES Weekly Digest here: CWS-CARES Weekly Digest Feedback Form. Subscribe to future issues here: CWS-CARES Weekly Digest Subscription Form.
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Action Required
We request that all CWS-CARES Single Point of Contacts (SPOCs) and Implementation Coordinators coordinate and distribute the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest to all staff impacted by CWS-CARES, at their discretion.