CARES SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, Probation Leadership, and State Leadership:
In this Weekly Digest (click the link for more information):
- Register for Stakeholder Briefing #6: Now Scheduled for March 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- CARES Explorer Volume 3, Issue 1 Now Available
- Coming March 30, 2026: The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2
- Introducing CWS-CARES Video #5 – CWS-CARES 101: Placement & Eligibility
- CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of the Week
Register for Stakeholder Briefing #6: Now Scheduled for March 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
You are invited to register the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing, now scheduled for March 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon! Register here to reserve your spot: Stakeholder Briefing #6 - March 25, 2026 | Registration.
Please note: a calendar invitation for Stakeholder Briefing #6 will not be sent from the CWS-CARES Project. You must manually add the .ics file included in the registration confirmation email to your calendar.
If you require any accommodations to attend this meeting, such as an ASL interpreter, please notify CWDS Customer Relations at: CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov at least one week in advance, or as soon as possible.
Please share the registration link and instructions in this email to any staff that might be interested in attending the session.
Thank you for your continued participation and engagement at the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings. We are excited to announce that in May 2026, Stakeholder Briefing webinars will be held monthly through CWS-CARES Go-Live, with additional time for stakeholder Q&A. View the dates for upcoming Stakeholder briefings, along with the recordings and materials from previous sessions, on the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings and Webinars page on the CWDS website.
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CARES Explorer Volume 3, Issue 1 Now Available
We are pleased to present the February 2026 issue 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
- CWS-CARES Readiness Update
- Stakeholder Briefing Registration and Update
Explore CWS-CARES:
- Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3
- Forms and Reports: Preparing for Go-Live and Beyond
Implementation Corner:
- Spotlight: County Participation in Binti Preliminary Data Mapping Validation Workshops
- 9-Month Readiness Checkpoints
- CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2
We recommend that you share this newsletter at your discretion with staff that are impacted by the changes coming with CWS-CARES. You may also obtain all previous CARES Explorer issues on the CWDS website: CARES Compass/Explorer | Child Welfare Digital Services.
If you would like to receive future issues of the CARES Explorer newsletter, please subscribe to the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest. Those who have previously subscribed to the CARES Explorer or CARES Compass will automatically begin receiving Weekly Digest emails each Monday, which will include an Explorer issue every quarter.
If you have questions, need clarification, or have any accessibility issues, please do not hesitate to contact Customer Relations.
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Coming March 30, 2026: The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2
The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop is returning with a brand-new selection of items! All 58 California counties, Tribes, State partners, and public agencies will be able to purchase CWS-CARES branded merchandise online at the CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2 between Monday, March 30 and Friday, April 17.
During this limited-time window, stakeholders will have the opportunity to purchase CWS-CARES–branded items using their own funds. The shop will feature a variety of new items, including apparel, stationery, mugs, accessories, and more. Additional details, ordering information, and a preview of the items offered will be shared in the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest, ahead of the Pop-Up Shop grand opening on March 30.
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Introducing CWS-CARES Video #5 – CWS-CARES 101: Placement & Eligibility
The CWS-CARES Implementation Team has released the latest video in the CWS-CARES Video Series: CWS-CARES 101 - Placement & Eligibility.
This brief, animated video shows a glimpse into a day in the life of a Case Worker and Eligibility Resource, highlighting new features in CWS-CARES. We encourage you to share this video with your teams, screen it during upcoming meetings, and use it as a tool to help jump-start conversations about CWS-CARES.
Visit the CWS-CARES Public Library to watch and share previous CARES videos: CWS-CARES Video Series.
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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 February 16 - 20, 2026:
- February 17, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Resource Family Approval (RFA): RFA Application Portal Self-Registration, RFA Portal Application Creation, Withdrawal of an Application by an RFA Applicant
Upcoming CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations Scheduled February 23 – 27, 2026: *
- February 23, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Financial Management: Portal Login, Management, Prevention Services, and more
*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
Q: Regarding Optimistic Concurrency, will there be a warning message when 2 people are editing the same record (For example, the same contact note, same warrant, etc.)?
A: In CWS-CARES, updates are written directly to the cloud. If two users attempt to edit the same record at the same time (e.g., the same contact log or case record), the second user will receive an error indicating that the record has been updated. They will then need to refresh the page, re-enter their changes, and save.
To be clear, records are not locked during editing since Salesforce handles Optimistic Concurrency through conflict detection instead.
Have a question? Send it to Customer Relations at CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov and we’ll be happy to help. To view all of the CWS-CARES FAQs, please visit the CWDS Website: CWS-CARES FAQs | CWDS Website.
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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.