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State pushes CWS CARES modernization; LAO recommends provisional funding linked to milestones
Summary
CDSS and the technology office said the CWS CARES child‑welfare information system is 18 months from statewide implementation but LAO urged conditional funding given past underspending and recommended milestone-based release.
CDSS and the Office of Technology and Solutions Integration briefed lawmakers on the CWS CARES project — the statewide replacement for California’s legacy child‑welfare information system — and described remaining development, testing and statewide readiness work.
Project leads said CWS CARES is on the critical path for multiple reforms, including automation needed for the tiered foster‑care rate structure and resource family approval processes. CDSS’s project manager said the department expects training for about 30,000 users across counties, tribes and state users, with statewide implementation targeted for October 2026 and rates tied to CARES functionality to follow in July 2027.
The Office of Technology noted risks that could affect the schedule, including complex issues discovered during production piloting or a large‑scale natural disaster that strains county resources — a concern raised after recent wildfires. The office emphasized extensive testing and “test early, test often” to mitigate late discoveries.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended the Legislature reduce the initial 2025–26 appropriation modestly to reflect historical underspending and to tie any additional funding to provisional budget‑bill language that conditions draws on the project meeting specified milestones, end‑user testing and adoption targets.
CDSS responded that schedule shifts and added scope (including TRS functionality) changed the distribution of spending across fiscal years but that the overall project budget stays within prior approvals. The department said final work this year will increase expenditures relative to previous years to complete user testing, training and data conversion.
