CalSAWS COVID-19 Response

CalSAWS Impact

Stay Safe, Stay Home, Stay Connected

For the safety of our staff, stakeholders and their families, the CalSAWS Project instituted a full-time virtual work plan on March 17, 2020. Staff continue their efforts and project activities while following local authority directives:

    • Stay home
    • Social distancing
    • Hygiene recommendations
    • Communications
    • Use of video conferencing and Microsoft collaboration tools to encourage open and frequent communication
    • Daily Check-Ins
    • Team Meetings
    • Special Alerts
    • Bi-weekly All Staff meetings
    • Bi-weekly Connect Newsletter

Community Impact

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the impact on California, we continue to support the current Statewide Automated Welfare Systems (SAWS) for our counties to assist the community following emergency guidelines and continuing to work on the design, development and implementation of the CalSAWS system.

Stakeholder Impact

Business as usual has been maintained throughout the project using virtual meetings through secured technology.

The Project has documented a risk related to a potential schedule impact caused by the surge of resources needed to support the COVID-19 relief design, development, test and deployment efforts.

  • The Project is monitoring the impact to the CalSAWS Project Schedule of the COVID- 19 work.
  • It is too early to tell if there will be a significant impact
  • Project Management will assess priorities and will make every attempt to minimize the impact to the CalSAWS schedule

County Impact

CalSAWS executive leadership provides regular updates to the Counties regarding Project actions:

  • To assisting the Counties and State in responding to the Executive Order (EO) and Federal stimulus package (HR 6201), and
  • To continuing to deliver on existing M&O and Migration commitment

CalSAWS will continue to maintain the CalSAWS.org website.  In addition, we will also continue to deliver the quarterly newsletter, The Buzz. This quarter the newsletter focuses on COVID-19 and Customer Engagement. Regional Managers and technical staff remain in contact with the counties to assist where possible. Several counties have been highlighted for their efforts to help stop the spread of Coronavirus while still meeting the needs of the community.

  • Drive thru drop off documents and verifications
  • Drive thru BIC/EBT Card pick-ups
  • Use of Docu-Sign
  • Customers are asked to wait in their cars until their appointment time
  • Extended Call Center/Work hours
  • Work Flex, Split or 4/10 Schedules
  • Rotate staff; alternating weeks on site
  • Guided work-from-home policies

CalSAWS Supports Our Neighbors

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals, families, and businesses in ways few could have ever predicted. The need for food assistance has increased, and the communities are trying to find creative ways to keep their beloved restaurants and other small businesses intact while we get through this crisis.

In addition to doing your part every day to help get benefits distributed to families in need, we are offering an opportunity to directly impact our neighbors, near and far, who may or may not be receiving benefits but are definitely in acute need. On behalf of CalSAWS, the ClearBest QA team is heading up a donation effort so that we can show the power of ONE CalSAWS team coming together for the good of our neighbors.

If you choose to donate, click here (CalSAWS Supports Our Neighbors During COVID-19) to find out more about each charity and donate to any or all of our three selected charities:

  • Feeding America – Funds local and national food banks.
  • Family Meal – Supports getting meals to families in needs and the restaurant industry supplying those meals.
  • Donate4Sacramento – Provides multiple ways to support small businesses, families in need, and those who are without shelter.

​Let’s show our neighbors and communities the power of our ONE CalSAWS team coming together for the good of our communities in this time of need.

Together we make a difference!  Thanks in advance for your support!


Ask CalSAWS

Have CalSAWS Project questions or concerns? Our team is here to help!

  • For questions or concerns about the following topics, contact your local county office (use this link to find contact information for your county office):
    • Your case or benefits
    • Using BenefitsCal or CalSAWS
    • BenefitsCal or CalSAWS system functionality
    • Support with a customer's case (for Community Based Organizations)
  • For questions about careers, contact Careers@CalSAWS.org
  • For questions or concerns about other topics, click here to submit to AskCalSAWS.

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