Cal-OAR County Letters

The letters provide an overview of the Cal-OAR initiative, updates on timeline, the Cal-OAR Continuous Quality Improvement (Cal-CQI) process, and performance measures.


ACIN 1-60-21

Notifies counties on the relaunch of Cal-OAR.

ACL 20-95

Provides counties with guidance on the one-year delay of Cal-OAR and extension of the Cal­-CQI cycle from three-years to five-years.

Start here if you're new

ACL 19-108

Prepares counties for the Cal-CQI process. This letter describes the Cal-CQI process and requirements; details on each Cal-CQI component; report submission requirements; technical assistance, training, and county resource updates; the Cal-CQI Instruction Manual; and other resources.

Start here if you're new

ACL 19-40

Provides counties with the Cal-OAR performance measures and definitions, the Cal-OAR data file instructions, and the timeframes for the Cal-CQI cycle and training.

ACIN 1-49-18

Informs counties of the Cal-OAR initiative.


Cal-OAR Timeline

SB 89

Pursuant to SB 89 (Chapter 24, Statutes of 2017), Cal-OAR was initially authorized and designed as a three-year cycle.

AB 79

The passage of AB 79 (Chapter 11, Statutes of 2020) delayed Cal-OAR implementation during State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 and extended the length of each Cal-CQI cycle from three-years to five-years.

AB 135

With the passage of AB 135 (Chapter 85, Statutes of 2021) Cal-OAR funding is reinstated for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 with the first Cal-OAR cycle beginning July 1, 2021 and concluding June 30, 2026.

ACL 20-95

ACIN I-60-21

Reference ACL 20-95 for more details concerning the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 Cal-OAR Pause and ACIN I-60-21 for more details concerning the Cal-OAR funding reinstatement, effective July 1, 2021.

ACIN I-47-23

ACIN I-47-23 was published on August 21st, 2023 and provides information on how counties can request Cal-OAR data support. Please refer to this letter for more information. Attached is the template from this ACIN to send in your questions to the Cal-OAR data team.

CFL 24/25-24

On October 23, 2024, CDSS released the County Fiscal Letter (CFL) 24/25-24, containing information on Cal-OAR allocations and Cal-OAR CSS Incentive allocations. The CFL gives a break down by county for both allocations, methodology for distribution of funds, links to access data file instructions, timeframes, and claiming instructions for the CalWORKs Continuous Quality Improvement (Cal-CQI) cycle and training.


Contact Us


Cal-OAR@dss.ca.gov