Cal-OAR Technical Assistance
Training and technical assistance are core components of Cal-OAR. The purpose of training and technical assistance is for CDSS to support Health and Human Services Agencies as they engage in continuous quality improvement (CQI) on behalf of families and staff in the CalWORKs program.
CDSS facilitates in-person and online trainings on Cal-OAR. CDSS recommends that HHSA staff participate in all trainings. HHSA staff can find a Microsoft Excel version of the Cal-OAR training plan here.
Please consult the recorded trainings if you would like to learn more about the Cal-OAR process, performance measures with technical instruction on data entry, and available resources to help HHSA staff implement Cal-CQI components (Cal-CSA, Cal-SIP, Progress Report, and Cal-OAR Peer Review process).
Technical assistance opportunities are available to HHSA staff to help them engage in CQI and complete each component of the Cal-OAR process. Technical assistance opportunities include:
- CQI Specialist coaching sessions: Each county has an assigned CDSS CQI Specialist who can provide direct technical assistance and support tailored to the county's needs. The CQI Specialist is an expert in CQI methods and the CalWORKs program. HHSA staff can reach out directly to their CQI Specialist for support at any time during the Cal-OAR process.
- Cal-OAR Forums: The Cal-OAR forums are an opportunity for counties to meet with CDSS to discuss Cal-OAR administration and management. Click here to register.
- Forum Questions and Answers from Previous forums and recordings of all forums are available.
- Monthly Cal-OAR Community of Practice sessions: The monthly community of practice sessions facilitated by CDSS, in partnership with Mathematica, are an opportunity for counties to discuss implementation strengths and challenges during the Cal-OAR process. Click here to register.
Recorded Trainings
Cal-OAR 101
The Cal-OAR 101 training introduces the purpose of the Cal-OAR initiative, and its performance measures and continuous quality improvement (Cal-CQI) process. The overview dives further into the components of Cal-OAR, including partner and community collaboration and the data dashboard. The CQI cycle training summarizes the Cal-CQI process, including timeline for reporting.
(Last Added XXX 2025)
Cal-OAR Continuous Quality Improvement
The CQI manual training describes the sections of the CalWORKs County Self-Assessment Report (Cal-CSA), which counties complete at the beginning of the Cal-CQI cycle. The Cal-CSA template and partner and collaborator (formerly stakeholder) engagement training offer additional guidance on completing the Cal-CSA. The Cal-CQI Manual (ACL 19-108) provides further information about the entire CQI cycle.
(Last Added XXX 2025)
CQI Manual Training, Specific to CSA
Cal-CSA Template Training
Cal-OAR Partner and Collaborator Engagement Training
Performance Measures
The data overview summarizes Cal-OAR data, including the data sources, dashboard, and process for validation and county review. Individual performance measures are covered in the phases of their implementation (phase 0, phase 1, and phase 2). The Performance Measures FAQs provide additional detail about the individual measures and phases for reporting. ACL 19-40 provides further information about the Cal-OAR Performance Measures and Data Files.
(Last Added XXX 2025)