In this Weekly Digest:
- CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #8 Recap | Registration Open for Stakeholder Briefing #9
- CWS-CARES Prod Sim & Environment Status Update – 6/22/2026
- Train-the-Trainer Enablement Kickoff Sessions Recap
- CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.11 Now Available
- The June 2026 Progress and Engagement Summary is Now Available
- CWS-CARES Environment for User Access: June 2026 Update
- CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight: June 29, 2026
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CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #8 Recap | Registration Open for Stakeholder Briefing #9
CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #8 – June 24, 2026:
Thank you to everyone who attended CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #8 on Wednesday, June 24, 2026! We were pleased to have 452 participants across 43 counties and over 5+ partner organizations join the session live. We received 53 questions during the session, which we are working to answer and share with you as soon as possible.
The session recording is now available on the Stakeholder Webinar Materials | Child Welfare Digital Services page under Stakeholder Briefing #8.
Please log in with your county or organization email address to view the recording. An accessible PDF of the presentation slides and a summary of the session Q&A will be available in the coming weeks in the same location.
CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #9 – July 22, 2026:
Registration is now open for the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing! We encourage you to attend Stakeholder Briefing #9 on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Register now. 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. Updates will include:
- Production Simulation
- Preparations for onboarding
- Available Functionality
- Status of environment fixes
- Implementation & Training
View the full agenda on CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #9: July 2026. We hope to see you on July 22, 2026!
Please contact Customer Relations at CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov with any questions.
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CWS-CARES Prod Sim & Environment Status Update – 6/22/2026
The CWS-CARES Project distributed an important update on June 22, 2026 regarding the status of the CWS-CARES Production Simulation (Prod Sim, or CARES 100) and other environments as the project tracks toward CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) Go-Live on October 26, 2026.
The update includes a detailed living document outlining the current capabilities, limitations, and system status as of June 22 for Prod Sim and other environments. The document covers:
- Known & Expected Issues, Current System Behavior: Highlights of known and expected issues, and current system behaviors users might encounter, focusing primarily on data-related issues.
- Resolved Issues: A summary of resolved bugs and defects. Users should report these if any unexpected behavior persists within these specific areas.
- Open/Reported Issues, Capabilities Not Available on June 22: A generalized overview of current Prod Sim issues classified by subject area; please note this does not represent the entirety of all reported active issues.
- Forms Status: A dedicated status update on the readiness and functionality of project forms.
- Environment Specifications
Please note that the document is a living resource and will be updated regularly, with the next updates scheduled for July 6 and August 4.
For the full update and attached documents, visit the CWS-CARES Prod Sim & Environment Status Update – 6/22/2026 page on the CWDS website.
Please contact Customer Relations for questions: CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov.
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Train-the-Trainer Enablement Kickoff Sessions Recap
On June 17, 2026, the CWS-CARES Project hosted two Train‑the‑Trainer (TTT) Enablement Kickoff sessions, welcoming 650+ attendees across both sessions. Participants reviewed the purpose of TTT Enablement, learned how to log into the Training Environment (CARES 104), viewed a live demonstration of the Enablement Programs, and received an overview of the support model that will be available to trainers in the coming weeks.
About Train-the-Trainer Enablement
TTT is designed to provide county trainers and key staff early access and hands‑on practice with CWS-CARES before formal training begins. This preparation is delivered through Enablement Programs, which are built‑in, on‑screen training guides within CARES that walk users through real workflows using step‑by‑step instructions. This approach helps trainers build confidence and ensures organizations are well-equipped to support their teams.
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CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.11 Now Available
CWS-CARES Data Dictionary V0.11 is now available on the Microsoft Teams Channel: CARES Data Dictionary under the “Shared” tab as of Monday, June 29, 2026. Check the Intro tab of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary for the detailed list of updates included in the new version.
Here are some highlights for the updates:
- Added New Data Usage column to the Columns tab to improve visibility into field usage.
- Renamed the Length Notation tab to Additional Information.
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The June 2026 Progress and Engagement Summary is Now Available
The CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Summaries provide a concise overview of the collaborative efforts and achievements of CWS-CARES. The June Progress and Engagement Summary features engagement analytics for the May 2026 reporting period across the following subject areas:
- Project Communications
- Stakeholder Briefing #7 – May 2026
- Forms and Data
- External Systems, Interfaces, and Analytics
- Implementation, OCM, and Training Activities
- Production Simulation
View all CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Summaries on the CWDS website: CWS_CARES_Progress_and_Engagement_Updates.
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CWS-CARES Environment for User Access: June 2026 Update
The CWS-CARES Project has published an updated overview of system environments as of June 2026. The CWS-CARES Environments for User Access: June 2026 Update provides a point-in-time overview of system environments, including their purpose, access, and availability, to support testing, training, and readiness activities ahead of Go-Live.
This resource is available on the CWS-CARES User Resources of the CWDS website.
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CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight: June 29, 2026
This week, the CWS-CARES Functionality Spotlight features the CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week.
June 29, 2026 FAQ of the Week:
Q: Who will be responsible for adding users to the FFPSA and RFA portals?
A: The County Administrator will be responsible for adding county users to county FFPSA and RFA portals.
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.