- CWS-CARES Production Simulation Opens to First Group of Users
- CalSAWS and CWS-CARES Staff to Collaborate in Production Simulation
- Updated Recommendation for Forms in CWS-CARES
- Reminder: Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
- CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
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CWS-CARES Production Simulation Opens to First Group of Users
CWS-CARES Production Simulation launched for the first group of users on Monday, May 4, 2026, marking a key milestone on the path to CWS-CARES Version 1 (CARES V1) Go-Live. Production Simulation is a production-like environment where users can test system operations, practice workflows, and build confidence ahead of Go-Live.
Onboarding for the first group of users began with Production Simulation Kickoff Meetings on May 4 and 5. More than 1,700 participants joined live. A recording of the session, along with the presentation slides, is now available on the Production Simulation Hub on the CWDS website. The remaining users will be onboarded in July 2026.
New Resource Available: The Production Simulation Hub
The CWS-CARES Production Simulation Hub launched on May 4, 2026. The Hub serves as a centralized resource for Production Simulation materials, including meeting links, recordings, support information, announcements, and Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3 scenarios. The Hub is accessible via the CWDS Portals page on the CWDS website to anyone with a county or organization email address.
Please contact CWDS Customer Relations at CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov with any questions.
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CalSAWS and CWS-CARES Staff to Collaborate in Production Simulation
On April 21, 2026, CalSAWS issued a Request for Information (RFI) to recruit CalSAWS staff for Foster Care Eligibility and Determination (FCED) testing in CWS-CARES Production Simulation.
Recruited CalSAWS participants will partner with their respective CWS-CARES counterparts to validate that business processes function as expected and that staff can work effectively in the system. Recommendations on how Eligibility staff collaborate was shared at the Production Simulation Kickoff meetings on May 4 and 5, 2026.
Recruitment for CalSAWS staff concluded on May 8, 2026. Onboarding for Eligibility staff will begin in the final week of May, and CalSAWS participation in Production Simulation will begin in early June 2026.
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Updated Recommendation for Forms in CWS-CARES
An update to guidance shared via email on September 15, 2025:
Due to compatibility constraints, Microsoft Word (Word) is no longer the recommended format for forms in CWS-CARES Version 1. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is now the primary recommendation, though Word remains available for forms requiring only basic text editing.
Note that certain Word features are not available in CWS-CARES, including:
- Document protection
- ActiveX controls (checkboxes, radio buttons, and command buttons)
- Macros and AutoText (e.g., F3 to insert a table)
See the Forms in CWS-CARES: Guidance and Recommendations fact sheet on the Infographics, Fliers, and Slogans page on the CWDS website for complete guidance and workarounds for using Word.
Questions? Email CWS_CustRel@otsi.ca.gov.
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Reminder: Register for CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing #7
We encourage you to attend the next CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefing on May 27, 2026 from 10:00 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 #7 | 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.
Registration page. Updates will include:
- Implementation
- Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3
- Production Simulation
- Resource Family Approval (RFA) Portal Demonstration
View the dates for all upcoming CWS-CARES Stakeholder Briefings in 2026 on the Stakeholder Briefings and Webinars page on the CWDS website.
Thank you for participating in our Stakeholder Briefing webinar series! We hope to see you on May 27, 2026 to continue the conversation on the upcoming transition to CWS-CARES.
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CWS-CARES Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of the Week
Each week, we highlight a common question from counties and partner organizations, along with a clear, practical answer to help you better understand CWS-CARES functionality.
May 11, 2026, FAQ of the Week:
Q: Will we be able to see all the information when a case is transferred from Child Welfare to Probation?
A: Yes, all previous child welfare case information and history will be available for the probation worker to access and view.
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’ll 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.