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):
- The February 2026 Progress and Engagement Summary is Now Available
- CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.09 Now Available
- Updated CWS-CARES Meeting & Workgroup Matrix
- Coming Soon: the CWS-CARES Communications Effectiveness Survey #3
- Reminder: Register for Stakeholder Briefing #6 on March 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of the Week
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The February 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 February Progress and Engagement Summary features engagement analytics for the January 2026 reporting period across the following subject areas:
- Project Communications
- Core Constituent Demonstrations
- Forms and Data
- External Systems, Interfaces, and Analytics
- Implementation, OCM, and Training Activities
View all CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Summaries on the CWDS website: CWS_CARES_Progress_and_Engagement_Updates.
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CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Version 0.09 Now Available
As of Friday, February 27, 2026, the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary V0.09 is available on the Microsoft Teams Channel CARES Data Dictionary under Shared. Featured changes and new features include:
- Enhance Change Log with release date and version tracking.
- Expanded Definitions tab with detailed explanations across all tabs and columns.
- Updates to Columns tab based on application development activities including Description, Screen Name, and Left Navigation Menu Name, etc.
Check the Intro tab of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary for the detailed list of updates included in the new version.
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Updated CWS-CARES Meeting & Workgroup Matrix
An updated CWS-CARES Meeting & Workgroup Matrix is now available on the CWDS User Resources Webpage. (login required).
This comprehensive matrix serves as a one-stop reference for recurring CWS-CARES meetings, workgroups, advisory committees, and core constituent sessions. It includes meeting statuses (open/closed), frequency and timing, facilitators, participant groups, webpage links, Teams channels, and contact emails, so you can quickly identify where to engage and how to stay informed.
As part of this update, the Microsoft Teams Channel Guide has been retired, as relevant Teams channel information is now incorporated directly into the matrix.
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Coming Soon: the CWS-CARES Communications Effectiveness Survey #3
The third annual Communications Effectiveness survey will open Monday March 9 – Friday March 20, 2026.
The survey is confidential, anonymous, and takes approximately 3-5 minutes to complete. The annual Communications Effectiveness Survey helps us understand what’s working and what could be improved with project communications. Your honest feedback is greatly valued.
Once the survey opens, please forward it to other CWS-CARES users who may wish to provide feedback on CWS-CARES Communications.
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Reminder: Register for Stakeholder Briefing #6 on 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.
All stakeholders are welcome to attend the CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing series and engage directly with our project team. At Stakeholder Briefing #5, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear updates on CWS-CARES Readiness, Production Simulation, and Forms and Reports. A pre-recorded demonstration of the Health and Education Passport (HEP) will also be shown. View the full agenda and register for the session on the Stakeholder Briefing #6 - March 25, 2026 | Registration page.
If you require any accommodations to attend this meeting, such as an ASL interpreter, please notify CWDS Customer Relations at: CWS_CustRel@osi.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.
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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 23 - 27, 2026:
- February 23, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Financial Management: Portal Login, Management, Prevention Services, and more
- February 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Eligibility: Establishing Guardianship, Guardian Homes, Kin-GAP
Upcoming CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations Scheduled March 2 – 6, 2026: *
- March 4, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Shared Services: Person Merge, Special Project Codes
*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 Questions (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. March 2, 2026 FAQ of the Week:
Q: Will dedicated counties be allowed to access CWS-CARES on county computers as well as state computers?
A: Dedicated County Users will be expected to access CWS-CARES using their dedicated county machines (supported by CWDS), similar to how they currently access CWS/CMS. Non-CWDS-supported county machines will not be allowed to access CWS-CARES. Users with specialized access needs (as seen in CWS/CMS) may be assigned SCBS-Citrix access based on specific business requirements.
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.