Child welfare services: prevention legal services.
- Establishes a three-year Family Advocacy Pilot Program to prevent families from entering the child welfare system.
- Provides grants to qualified organizations for free legal services and family support teams.
- Requires organizations to have at least three years of experience serving low-income Californians.
- Mandates a program effectiveness report to the Legislature after the three-year pilot period.
Senator Weber Pierson's Family Advocacy Pilot Program legislation establishes a three-year initiative providing prevention legal services to families at risk of child welfare intervention. The program authorizes the State Department of Social Services to distribute grants to qualified organizations offering legal assistance and interdisciplinary support services aimed at stabilizing families before court involvement becomes necessary.
The legislation defines qualified organizations as legal aid or community-based nonprofits with at least three years of experience serving low-income Californians, or legal service organizations with seven years of dependency law training experience. These organizations must provide services at no cost to recipients, including assistance with restraining orders, custody arrangements, immigration matters, public benefits access, housing stability, and education barriers. An interdisciplinary team comprising social workers, case managers, parent partners, and peer advocates will help families navigate child welfare investigations and connect them to substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and other support services.
The Department must develop implementation parameters by July 1, 2026, in consultation with lived experience experts, advocates, dependency attorneys, tribes, and community organizations. The program allows for federal funding through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to supplement state appropriations. At the conclusion of the pilot, the Department will submit a program evaluation to the Legislature, excluding any personally identifying information about participating families.
 Alex LeeD Assemblymember | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Akilah Weber PiersonD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Bill EssayliR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Corey JacksonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 0 | 2 | 40 | PASS |
- Establishes a three-year Family Advocacy Pilot Program to prevent families from entering the child welfare system.
- Provides grants to qualified organizations for free legal services and family support teams.
- Requires organizations to have at least three years of experience serving low-income Californians.
- Mandates a program effectiveness report to the Legislature after the three-year pilot period.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Senator Weber Pierson's Family Advocacy Pilot Program legislation establishes a three-year initiative providing prevention legal services to families at risk of child welfare intervention. The program authorizes the State Department of Social Services to distribute grants to qualified organizations offering legal assistance and interdisciplinary support services aimed at stabilizing families before court involvement becomes necessary.
The legislation defines qualified organizations as legal aid or community-based nonprofits with at least three years of experience serving low-income Californians, or legal service organizations with seven years of dependency law training experience. These organizations must provide services at no cost to recipients, including assistance with restraining orders, custody arrangements, immigration matters, public benefits access, housing stability, and education barriers. An interdisciplinary team comprising social workers, case managers, parent partners, and peer advocates will help families navigate child welfare investigations and connect them to substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and other support services.
The Department must develop implementation parameters by July 1, 2026, in consultation with lived experience experts, advocates, dependency attorneys, tribes, and community organizations. The program allows for federal funding through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to supplement state appropriations. At the conclusion of the pilot, the Department will submit a program evaluation to the Legislature, excluding any personally identifying information about participating families.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 0 | 2 | 40 | PASS |
Alex LeeD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Akilah Weber PiersonD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Bill EssayliR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Corey JacksonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |