Memorandum
Date: August 11, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Rachael Dillman Parsons, Social Services Director
Subject: ADDENDUM - Approve Advocacy Letter “Request to Protect Child Safety by Delaying CWS-CARES System Launch & Enhancing Accountability Measures” and Authorize the Chair to Sign
Executive Summary:
CWS-CARES is the new statewide computer system for Child Welfare Services (CWS) case management. CWS-CARES design is very behind in development due to issues with the state-contracted vendor, and yet the state plans to launch October 1, 2026, with the system incomplete. This poses significant risk to counties ability to be prepared to support child safety when the system goes live. The County Welfare Director’s Association (CWDA) is advocating for a delay of 6 to 8 months to ensure the new CWS-CARES system is ready.
The video presentation we are requesting to share was published on August 4, 2026. Its run length is approximately 6 minutes. The advocacy letter was requested by CWDA on August 8, 2026. The advocacy letter is needed to support CWDA in a legislative hearing on August 12, 2026. Thus, we are requesting this be added to August 11, 2026, as an Extra Agenda Item.
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☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☒ County Workforce
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Recommended Action: Approve Advocacy Letter “Request to Protect Child Safety by Delaying CWS-CARES System Launch & Enhancing Accountability Measures” and Authorize the Chair to Sign