This communication is a follow-up to the October 17, 2025, correspondence on the status of the CWS-CARES Project's Advance Planning Document Update (APDU), specific implementation activities, and the resulting impacts of the ongoing federal shutdown.
The federal shutdown has impacted the submission and subsequent approval of the CWS-CARES APDU by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The absence of approved federal funding necessitates a suspension of specific implementation activities. Formally approved funding is a prerequisite for executing any CWS-CARES service contracts or contract amendments. To ensure fiscal prudence and preserve existing funding, most implementation activities will be temporarily paused effective November 3, 2025. All other implementation activities not explicitly listed below are paused pending further guidance.
The following key implementation activities will proceed as scheduled or with necessary adjustments:
- Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST) 3 Training Development and Delivery: This workstream will continue as planned. The Training Advisory Workgroup meetings will focus exclusively on EUST 3.
- Process Information Sessions: These sessions will continue as planned for all of the remaining topics: Courts, Probation, Resource Family Approval (RFA), Resource Management (RM), Financial Management (FM), and Administrative Services. The OCM Advisory Workgroup meetings will focus exclusively on Process Information Session preparation.
- Organization Readiness: This activity continues with modifications. We will monitor and report Organization Readiness status to relevant leadership and organizations. However, existing monthly county Implementation Readiness Meetings will be canceled and replaced by a new series of regionally aligned group meetings, in some cases led by different facilitators and using a revised format. These meetings will be used to collect and report on Organization Readiness status to leadership and partner organizations.
Updates on Sandbox, Process Simulation, and Pilot activities will be shared in a subsequent communication.
Significant areas of the CWS-CARES Project are continuing without interruption including prototype and build reviews, Extended User Scenario Testing (EUST), forms, reports, data conversion and external systems activities. Your organizations should continue all work, including associated readiness activities.
The CWS-CARES Version 1 Go-Live Date remains October 2026.
We appreciate your understanding and continued partnership as we navigate these required adjustments. We will provide continuous updates as decisions are formalized.