In this Weekly Digest:
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General
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Introducing a New Weekly Digest Format
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Clarification on CWS-CARES Version 1 Go-Live Date
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Final Reminder: Two (2) Days Left to Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #9
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Implementation
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Working Session Kickoff: Archetype Sessions
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Production Simulation
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CWS-CARES Changes to Enablement Training Enrollment
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System Updates & Release Notes Now Available on the Production Simulation Hub
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Technical Update
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CWS-CARES Weekly Maintenance and System Update Window
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CWS-CARES Functionality
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CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight: July 20, 2026
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General
Introducing a New Weekly Digest Format
The CWS-CARES Weekly Digest is introducing a new format beginning this week. Articles will now be organized by category to make it easier for readers to find the information most relevant to their role and organization. Categories will vary every week based on the content available, but may include External Systems, Implementation, Production Simulation, and more. A Technical Updates section will also be included when applicable. This section will feature system maintenance notices, interface and integration updates, data dictionary updates, software compatibility guidelines, and more.
Thank you for reading the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest. Please contact Customer Relations with any feedback or questions about the Weekly Digest.
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Clarification on CWS-CARES Version 1 Go-Live Date
We have recently received questions regarding potential changes to the CWS-CARES Version 1 Go-Live date, including rumors of a shift to June 2027.
We want to clarify that the official Go-Live date remains October 26, 2026.
While we are aware of the concerns that have been raised and are actively working to address them, our teams continue to plan and prepare for the October 2026 release.
Please note that any change to the project timeline would require a formal decision through our established official governance process. Unless an official decision is made and communicated through those channels, the October 26, 2026 date remains our active target.
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Final Reminder: Two (2) Days Left to Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #9
Thank you to the 345+ stakeholders who have already registered for the next Stakeholder Briefing on Wednesday, July 22, 2026! If you’ve not yet registered, we encourage you to attend the live webinar on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 10:30 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 #9 | 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 July 2026 Stakeholder Briefing is available to view on the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #9 Registration page. Updates will include:
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Production Simulation
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Updated Onboarding Timeline
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Status of Fixes
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Prod Sim Support
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Redacting Sensitive and Confidential Data in Support Tickets
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Implementation & Training
Some registrants have reported difficulties completing registration due to a technical issue with Microsoft Teams. If you experience this, please clear your cache and open the registration link in the Microsoft Edge browser or register on a mobile phone. If you continue to experience issues, please contact Customer Relations for further assistance.
Thank you for participating in our Stakeholder Briefing webinar series! We hope to see you on July 22, 2026 to continue the conversation on the upcoming transition to CWS-CARES.
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Implementation
Working Session Kickoff: Archetype Sessions
Archetype Sessions are underway! A small group of representative organizations from Child Welfare, Juvenile Probation, Tribes, and CDSS are meeting July 13 through July 24 to establish a statewide baseline of ways of working. This baseline will guide the upcoming Delta Sessions (July 27 through August 28), which are designed to help each organization pinpoint where local practices or policies need to align with CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) workflow.
During each Archetype session, participants review the operational changes expected to significantly affect day-to-day practices as organizations transition to CWS-CARES. Archetype Sessions focus on identifying statewide commonalities and differences in current workflows.
Thank you to all participating organizations for your partnership and preparation. Your engagement is essential in shaping baseline workflows for CWS‑CARES and informing the support you will receive throughout the transition.
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Production Simulation
CWS-CARES Changes to Enablement Training Enrollment
On July 13, 2026, the CWS-CARES Project announced that all published Enablement Programs would be automatically assigned to all users within the CWS-CARES Production Simulation (Prod Sim) environment (CARES 100). This change is designed to give users full visibility into available training materials, though it means that user dashboards may look slightly different.
Here is what users can expect:
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Users will now see all available programs in the CARES 100 environment.
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Users may see programs assigned to them that don't align with their specific learning path.
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Users who previously disenrolled from a program may be automatically re-enrolled. Users still have full control to manually adjust their enrollments and disenroll again as needed.
We highly encourage users to work directly with their supervisor or training coordinator to confirm which programs are right for their specific role. Published learning paths remain the best reference to guide their selection and enrollment.
For full details, visit the CWS-CARES Upcoming Changes to Enablement Training Enrollment page on the CWDS website.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your training coordinator or CWDS Training.
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System Updates & Release Notes Now Available on the Production Simulation Hub
The CWS-CARES Production Simulation Hub now includes a new System Updates & Release Notes section. This section provides users with a centralized location to find the latest system updates and release notes related to Production Simulation.
To access this resource, visit the link on the CWS-CARES Production Simulation Hub on the CWDS website and select System Updates & Release Notes from the left bar menu.
Available Now: CWS-CARES Release Notes - July 13, 2026
On July 13, 2026, the CWS-CARES Project released a set of updates to the Production Simulation (Prod Sim) environment (CARES 100) and additional updates to the CARES105 (DCVal) environment. The release includes 80 defect fixes aimed at improving reliability, accuracy, and overall usability across Case Management, DocGen (Document Generation), Adoption workflows, Resource Family Approval (RFA), Financial Management.
Most improvements focus on correcting data mappings, fixing permissions, ensuring required fields populate properly, and supporting essential tasks like generating forms, viewing financial information, and receiving system notifications.
For more details, please visit System Updates & Release Notes tab within the Production Simulation Hub in the CWDS website.
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Technical Update
CWS-CARES Weekly Maintenance and System Update Window
Weekly maintenance for the CARES100 and CARES105 environments is now scheduled every Friday after 5:00 PM with major updates expected to finish by Saturday at 8:00 AM. While the systems remain accessible, users may experience minor, temporary performance issues—such as slowness or search disruptions—during this time. Any necessary updates to other CWS-CARES environments will be scheduled and communicated separately as they are determined.
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CWS-CARES Functionality
CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight: July 20, 2026
This week, the CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight features the CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week.
July 20, 2026 FAQ of the Week:
Q: Can County Train-the-Trainer (TTT) conduct training independently, or do they need support from CWS-CARES Trainers?
A: Counties have flexibility. Train-the-Trainers can:
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Conduct all Instructor-Led Training (ILT) sessions independently and will receive support from CWS-CARES Trainers who can answer questions during training.
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Co-lead with state trainers.
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Shadow state trainers while learning the process.
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 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.
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Security Protocols for Prod Sim Case Data
The Prod Sim environment contains converted CWS/CMS cases reflecting actual system data as of April 17, 2026. Because this includes real, sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII), all case information must be strictly protected or redacted.
To protect CWS-CARES case data, please follow these important security guidelines when working with our support teams:
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Redact Ticket Info: Do not send Protected Health Information (PHI), PII, or confidential case details to the Service Desk via email or ticket. Sensitive and confidential data cannot be stored in the ticketing system.
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Secure Screen Shares: During support-requested screen shares, limit attendees to essential personnel only. Recording of sensitive information is strictly prohibited.
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Consult for Tier 3 Transfers: If Tier 3 support needs sensitive data, use secure transmission methods. Contact your county Privacy Officer or the CWDS ISO if you need assistance with secure routing.
We appreciate your dedication to protecting the safety and privacy of vulnerable children and families while we work together to support your needs.