CARES SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, Probation Leadership, and State Leadership:
In this Weekly Digest:
- Reminder: Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
- Follow Our Progress: The CWS-CARES High Level Roadmap is Now Updated
- CARES Explorer April 2026 Issue Now Available
- Thank You for Ordering Items at the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop!
- CWS-CARES Core Constituent DemonstrationsConclude
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
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Reminder: Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
We encourage you to attend the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing on May 27, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM! All stakeholders impacted by the changes to CWS-CARES are welcome to attend, ask questions, and hear updates from Project leadership.
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.
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
View the dates for all upcoming CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings in 2026 on the Stakeholder Briefings and Webinars 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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Follow Our Progress: The CWS-CARES High Level Roadmap is Now Updated
The CWS-CARES High Level Roadmap has been updated to include the 2026 timelines for Production Simulation and Training. The roadmap provides a broad view of the activities planned ahead of CWS-CARES Go-Live and information about the CWS-CARES Version 1 scope.
View the updated roadmap on the CWDS Website: CWS-CARES High Level Roadmap - Updated April 2026.
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CARES Explorer April 2026 Issue Now Available
We are pleased to present Volume 3, Issue 2 of the CARES Explorer, the long‑form newsletter published every other month! For the best experience, please open the link using the Microsoft Edge browser. This issue includes the following topics:
Project Updates:
- Upcoming Activities at CWS-CARES
- Production Simulation
- Stakeholder Briefing #6 Recap and Briefing #7 Registration Information
Explore CWS-CARES:
- Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3 Concludes
- Kin-GAP Demonstration Highlights
- Implementation Corner:
- Spotlight on Sonoma County
Implementation Corner:
- Spotlight on Sonoma County
- Updated Implementation Approach Highlights
We recommend that you share this newsletter with all staff impacted by the changes coming with CWS-CARES. All previous issues of the CARES Explorer and CARES Compass are available to view on the CWDS website: CARES Compass/Explorer | Child Welfare Digital Services.
View the articles from all issues of the CARES Explorer in the CWS-CARES Public Library, a searchable, sharable repository of information related to CWS-CARES. The Public Library is available on the CWDS website on the Resources for CWS-CARES Users page.
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Thank You for Ordering Items at the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop!
The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2 closed on Friday, April 24, 2026 with 7,400+ items ordered. Thank you for showing your support for CWS-CARES! Review the FAQs below for what to expect:
Item Status
All items except the Econo Cap have met the minimum order totals for production. If you ordered the Econo Cap, it will be removed from your order and not charged.
When to Expect Your Items
There is a 3-week processing time for producing items. Shipping times are dependent on the shipping method selected at checkout. For more information on item processing and shipping, please review the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2 FAQs.
Will There be More Pop-Up Shops?
Yes! The next Pop-Up Shop is scheduled for September 2026, featuring a new selection of CWS-CARES-branded items. Request merchandise for the next Pop-Up Shop by completing a 1-minute survey: CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop Merch Ideas.
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CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations Conclude
As of mid-April, the CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstration series has concluded. Recordings previous demonstrations are available to view on the CWDS website at: CWS-CARES Product Demonstrations. Please note, a log in is required to view all recordings.
Thank you to everyone who attended and provided feedback!
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CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
Each week, we highlight a common question from counties and partner organizations, along with a clear, practical answer to help you better understand CWS-CARES functionality.
April 27, 2026, FAQ of the Week:
Q: Can you upload a document to the competency evaluation? (e.g., if someone is receiving methadone treatment and their provider writes a letter—currently these are saved elsewhere; can they be uploaded?).
A: Yes. In the Adoption case for a relinquishment, users can document whether a competency evaluation is required and, if applicable, provide a narrative explanation. Users can also record details such as the provider name, date received, and decision. Supporting documentation (e.g., a provider letter) can be uploaded in the Documents section under the Adoptions category using the Relinquishment document type.
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’ll 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.
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.