Child welfare services: prevention legal services.

Senator Weber Pierson's proposal to establish the Family Advocacy Pilot Program would create a three-year grant initiative providing prevention legal services to families at risk of child welfare intervention. The program, administered by the State Department of Social Services, would fund qualified organizations to deliver legal representation and support services before potential juvenile court involvement.

Under the program, eligible organizations would provide free legal assistance in areas such as restraining orders, custody arrangements, immigration matters, public benefits access, and housing stability. The initiative would also support interdisciplinary teams comprising social workers, case workers, and peer advocates to help families navigate child welfare investigations and connect with services related to substance use, mental health, domestic violence, education, and childcare. Organizations qualifying for grants must demonstrate either three years of experience providing legal services to low-income Californians or seven years of experience in dependency legal services training.

The Department of Social Services would develop implementation parameters by July 2026 in consultation with advocacy groups, dependency attorneys, tribes, and community organizations. The department would seek federal funding through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to supplement state appropriations. At the program's conclusion, the department would submit an evaluation report to the Legislature examining outcomes while maintaining participant confidentiality.