Subprograms and Information

Immigration Services Funding

Senate Bill (SB) 79 (Statutes of 2015, Chapter 5.6) enacted California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §13302-§13306 authorizing the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to award funding to qualified nonprofit organizations to provide services in one or more of the following five (5) service categories: (1) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or other immigration remedies; (2) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) or other immigration remedies; (3) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Naturalization; (4) Legal Training and Technical Assistance Services; and (5) Education and Outreach Activities. These funds shall expand services by augmenting existing funding resources of other providers and will focus on services to immigrants who reside in the State of California.  

Program Updates

The CDSS' Immigration Unit is pleased to announce its intent to offer funding for Immigration Services for Fiscal Year 2015/16. Please see the announcement for further details and a list of awardees.   

• The Request for Application period is closed; however, please review the following documents for reference:

Request for Application 
Draft Standard Agreement Package 

• For more program information, please review the FAQs:

FAQ October 2015 
Q&A February 2016 

• Important Dates to Remember:

• January 01, 2016 - Service Implementation
• June 30, 2017 - End of Contract Term   

Please direct all questions to ImmigrationServices@dss.ca.gov.

Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors

Senate Bill (SB) 873 (Statutes of 2014, Chapter 685) enacted California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §13300-§13302 which authorizes the CDSS to award funding to qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to provide legal services to eligible Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors (UUMs), as defined in Section 279(g)(2) of Title 6 of the United States Code, who are present in California and transferred to the care and custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or are residing with a sponsor.

The funding for legal services provided pursuant to SB 873 is for the sole purpose of providing legal representation for UUMs in the filing of, preparation for and representation in administrative and/or judicial proceedings for the following immigration statuses: asylum, T-Visa, U-Visa, and/or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). The legal services include culturally and linguistically appropriate services provided by attorneys, paralegals, interpreters and other support staff for state court proceedings, federal immigration proceedings, and any appeals arising from those proceedings.

• The CDSS' Immigration Unit is pleased to announce its intent to offer funding for UUM Legal Services for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016/17. Please see the announcements below for further details and a list of awardees.

FY 2016/17 RFA Award

FY 2015/16 Streamline Award

FY 2015/16 RFA Award 

• The Request for Application period is closed; however please review the following documents for reference.

UUM Legal Services Funding Request for Application 
DRAFT Standard Agreement Package 

• Fiscal Year 2016/17 Funding ($2.9 million)
  
  
• Current contracts are in place for 18 nonprofit legal services organizations.
• Contract Service Term: July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017.
  
• Fiscal Year 2015/16 Funding ($2.9 million)
         
•  $1.45 million, which is 50 percent of the total budget, is obligated to 17 nonprofit organizations via contract.
•  Contracts are being processed for $1.45 million, the remaining 50 percent of the total budget, with 15 contractors (both existing and new).
  
  

• Fiscal Year 2014/15 Funding ($2.9 million)
  
  
• Current contracts are in place for 17 nonprofit legal services organizations.
• Contract term: December 19, 2014 - June 30, 2016
  
  Submit any UUM related questions to UUMLegalServices@dss.ca.gov.