Child welfare services: domestic violence consultant pilot program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's text does not specify which counties will participate or provide funding details, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Domestic Violence Consultant Program for Child Welfare

This law allows county child welfare agencies to start a pilot program where social workers can get help from experts on domestic violence to better support families dealing with both abuse and child welfare issues.

What This Bill Does

• Allows county child welfare agencies to establish a 3-year trial program involving a consultant who specializes in helping victims of domestic violence.
• Requires the consultant to teach social workers about the complexities of domestic violence and how it affects children, providing education on related dynamics and services.
• Needs participating counties to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program and report their findings to the Legislature by October 31, 2031.

Who It Names or Affects

• County child welfare agencies
• Social workers in these agencies

Terms To Know

Domestic Violence Consultant

An expert from a victim service organization who helps social workers understand the issues related to domestic violence.

Pilot Program

A small-scale test of an idea or method before it is fully implemented.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify which counties will participate in this pilot program.
• It is unclear how much funding will be provided for the implementation and evaluation of the program.

Official Summary Text

AB 779, Lackey.
Child welfare services: domestic violence consultant pilot program.
Existing law requires the state, through the State Department of Social Services and county welfare departments, to establish and support a public system of statewide child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families.
This bill would authorize a county child welfare agency to establish a 3-year pilot program in which the county partners with a domestic violence consultant from a domestic violence victim service organization to
offer support and guidance to county social workers in addressing the complex dynamics of families who are potentially experiencing both domestic violence and child maltreatment in order to enhance the social worker’s knowledge of domestic violence and their ability to apply that knowledge to their work with parent survivors and their children through tailored engagement and intervention strategies. The bill would require a domestic violence consultant under the program to assist county social workers by providing education on domestic violence-related dynamics and services and discussing complicating factors and protective measures, as specified, among other things. The bill would require a county that implements the pilot program to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program and report its findings to the Legislature on or before October 31, 2031. The bill would require a participating county to seek the input of the State Department of Social Services and stakeholders, including people with
lived experience with domestic violence and child welfare, in the design and implementation of the evaluation.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF