CARES SPOCs, CARES Technical Contacts, Implementation Coordinators, OCM Coordinators, County Leadership, Tribe Leadership, and State Leadership:
Please join the Project Team for a CWS-CARES Production Simulation Kickoff Meeting for Resource Family Approval (RFA) and Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) portals testing. The testing period for RFA and FFPSA portals is September 14 to September 25.
This optional meeting will introduce the purpose of portal testing, user expectations, how to access and test the portals, and support available. All RFA and FFPSA testers are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be recorded and shared with users on the CWS-CARES Production Simulation Hub.
All meetings will share identical content. You should only plan to attend one meeting:
- Meeting Option 1: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Register now at: Option 1: CWS-CARES Production Simulation Kickoff Meeting for RFA and FFPSA Portals Testing - Meeting Option 2: Monday, September 14, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Register now at: Option 2: CWS-CARES Production Simulation Kickoff Meeting for RFA and FFPSA Portals Testing
Please note that each session is limited to the first 1,000 participants. If you are unable to attend, please review the recording that will be available on the CWS-CARES Production Simulation Hub.
If accommodation is needed, please contact the CWS-CARES Production Simulation Support Mailbox as soon as possible.
Action Required:
Please share the registration links and kickoff details with all staff involved in RFA and FFPSA portal testing.
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Security Protocols for Prod Sim Case Data
The Prod Sim environment contains converted CWS/CMS cases reflecting actual system data as of April 17, 2026. Because this includes real, sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII), all case information must be strictly protected or redacted.
To protect CWS-CARES case data, please follow these important security guidelines when working with our support teams:
- Redact Ticket Info: Do not send Protected Health Information (PHI), PII, or confidential case details to the Service Desk via email or ticket. Sensitive and confidential data cannot be stored in the ticketing system.
- Secure Screen Shares: During support-requested screen shares, limit attendees to essential personnel only. Recording of sensitive information is strictly prohibited.
- Consult for Tier 3 Transfers: If Tier 3 support needs sensitive data, use secure transmission methods. Contact your county Privacy Officer or the CWDS ISO if you need assistance with secure routing.
We appreciate your dedication to protecting the safety and privacy of vulnerable children and families while we work together to support your needs.