Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Welfare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves AB 779 to place domestic-violence consultants inside child welfare offices
Summary
AB 779 would expand a pilot model that places domestic violence consultants in Department of Child and Family Services offices to advise social workers; the committee passed the bill as amended and sent it on with an aye recommendation.
Assemblymember Lackey presented AB 779, which would scale a pilot program that places domestic-violence consultants into Department of Child and Family Services offices to support social workers’ real‑time assessments of families affected by domestic violence.
Magali Zagal, representing the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, testified in support and described the pilot in the Antelope Valley as a collaborative model that “saw domestic violence service providers act as consultant advisors for child welfare personnel.” Zagal said the partnership represents more than 100 domestic violence agencies statewide and urged an aye vote, saying the bill is “trauma informed, family centered, and keeps more families together safely.”
No witnesses in opposition were recorded. Committee members thanked the author for accepting amendments that would allow counties to opt into the expanded pilot; the committee moved the bill, and the motion carried. The item was reported out of committee as amended.
