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Committee approves AB 779 to pilot domestic violence consultants inside child welfare offices
Summary
AB 779 would fund an opt-in three-year pilot placing domestic violence consultants in county child welfare offices to help social workers respond to family dynamics and connect survivors to resources; the committee advanced the bill unanimously to Appropriations.
Assemblymember Lackey presented AB 779, which seeks to expand a pilot program from the Antelope Valley that places domestic violence consultants directly in Department of Child and Family Services offices to guide social workers and connect families to services.
The author said the pilot helps avoid mislabeling survivors as neglect cases and keeps families together safely by providing trauma‑informed guidance. Amanda Kirschner of the California Welfare Directors Association testified in support, citing data that about one-third of general neglect calls to child welfare are related to domestic violence.
Los Angeles County and other local representatives expressed support for scaling the pilot. Committee members praised the proposal as preventive and trauma-informed; Vice Chair Chobot moved the bill. A roll call showed committee members voting to pass AB 779 to Appropriations; the item was kept on call.
