Welcome to our first issue of the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest – your updates in a single, easy-to-read email, distributed every Monday.
The second annual CWS-CARES Communications Effectiveness Survey showed that while project emails are your main source of information, the sheer volume makes it hard to prioritize. In response, we are streamlining our informational content into a single weekly email. You will still get individual emails for items that require action, but this update will summarize key information to save you time and keep you up to date.
For more information, please see the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest Overview.
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CARES Compass – Executive Summary – September 2025
We are pleased to present the September issue of the CARES Compass, the two-page executive summary with upcoming project communications and brief informational highlights, available here: The CARES Compass - September 2025.
Highlights include:
- October Stakeholder Briefing Registration
- Announcing the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest
- The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop
- The New External Systems Portal
- Upcoming Communications
The CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop is Now Open
The online CWS-CARES Pop-Up Shop is now open and ready for business! From Monday, September 8, 2005, to Friday, September 22, 2025, you can shop our exclusive collection of CWS-CARES branded items online. This limited-time shop is open to everyone, including 58 California counties, partners, public agencies, and CWDS Project staff.
For more details regarding shipping fees, invoice requests, and future Pop-Up Shops, please reference the following link: Featured Items and FAQs.
Happy Shopping!
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CWDS Website Update: New External Systems Portal
The External Systems Portal is your one-stop shop for all the latest external systems information, including monthly meeting recordings, materials, and other helpful resources.To access the portal, simply navigate to the CWDS Portals, select the External Systems Portal, and log in with your organization email address.
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New CWS-CARES Microsoft Teams Channel Guide
In response to your feedback, we have created the CWS-CARES MS Teams Channel Guide. The matrix provides an overview of all CWS-CARES Microsoft Teams Channels for Organizations, including each channel’s purpose, audience, and point of contact. Note: Each channel is intended for a specific audience. If you believe you should be included in a Teams channel, please contact the listed point of contact.
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Monthly CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Summary
The August CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Summary is now available on the CWDS Webpage here: CWS-CARES Progress and Engagement Updates. This monthly update provides a clear, concise, and consistent overview of the collaborative efforts and achievements of CWS-CARES and its stakeholders.
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CWS-CARES Data Dictionary v0.05 Announcement & Office Hours
We are excited to announce that v0.05 of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary (DD) was made available on the Microsoft Teams Channel: CARES Data Dictionary under Files on September 2, 2025. The Intro tab of the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary highlights all updates in the new version, making it easy to see what is new or changed.
We also held a CWS-CARES Office Hours (Data Dictionary and SQLDBM) Discussion on September 2, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. This was a drop-in session designed to provide hands-on training, live demonstrations, and answers to your questions about the Data Dictionary and SQLDBM. The meeting recording, demo, and key takeaways are available on the CWS-CARES Data Dictionary Teams Channel here: CWS-CARES Data Dictionary and SqlDBM Office Hours.
Please contact CWDSDataManagement@otsi.ca.gov if you have any questions.
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CWS-CARES Sandbox Environment Launch
The CWS-CARES Team is providing a Sandbox Environment for Organizations to support CWS-CARES V1 end-user readiness and offer early, hands-on experience with the system. Access will be granted in cohorts. The first cohort, which included 559 users from 28 counties and CDSS, received access on July 23, 2025. Additional cohorts will gain access between September 2025 and April 2026.
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Share Your Feedback and Subscribe
We would love to hear from you! Share your feedback on this the CWS-CARES Weekly Digest here: CWS‑CARES Weekly Digest Feedback Form. Subscribe to future issues here: CWS‑CARES Weekly Digest Subscription Form.
Action Required
No action required.
We request that all CARES Single Point of Contacts (SPOCs) and Implementation Coordinators coordinate and distribute the CARES Weekly Digest to all staff impacted by CWS-CARES, at their discretion.