CARES SPOCs, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, Probation Leadership, and State Leadership:
In this Weekly Digest:
- Communication Effectiveness Survey #3
- Reminder: Register for Stakeholder Briefing #6 on March 25, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2: Item Sneak Peak
- CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of the Week
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Communication Effectiveness Survey #3
The third annual CWS-CARES Communications Effectiveness Survey opened today, March 9, 2026, and will remain open through Friday, March 20, 2026.
Take the survey here to share your feedback: CWS-CARES Communications Effectiveness Survey #3.
The survey is confidential, anonymous, and takes approximately three (3) to five (5) minutes to complete. The annual Communications Effectiveness Survey helps us understand what is working and what could be improved with project communications. Your honest feedback is greatly valued.
Please feel free to 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, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
You are invited to register for the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing, now scheduled for March 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon. We are excited to announce that we have 391 registrants as of Friday, March 6! 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 #6, 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@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.
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CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop #2: Item Sneak Peak
The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop is just around the corner! From March 30 – April 17, 2026, all 58 California counties, Tribes, and partner organizations will have an opportunity to purchase CWS-CARES branded items using their own funds.
View the flyer for a sneak peak of selected items included in the upcoming Pop-Up Shop.
A preview of all items including pricing details, descriptions, and purchasing FAQs will be published in the March 16, 2026 CWS-CARES Weekly Digest.
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CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations
Here is 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 March 2 - 6, 2026:
- March 4, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Shared Services: Person Merge, Special Project Codes
Upcoming CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations: *
- No CWS-CARES Core Constituent Demonstrations are currently planned between March 9 – 31, 2026.
*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 9, 2026 FAQ of the Week:
Q: How will CWS-CARES manage the transition to Daylight Saving Time?
A: Unlike in CWS/CMS, there will be no “blackout hour” during the transition to Daylight Saving Time in CWS-CARES. CWS-CARES will remain live and automatically update to reflect the time change as it occurs.
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 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.