Immigration Services Funding

The Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §13302-§13306 authorizes the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to award Immigration Services Funding (ISF) to qualified nonprofit organizations to provide one or more of the following six (6) service categories: (1) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); (2) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Naturalization; (3) Services to Assist Applicants seeking Affirmative Immigration Remedies; (4) Legal Training and Technical Assistance Services; (5) Education and Outreach Activities; and (6) Services to Assist Individuals with Removal Defense. 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.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is accepting funding renewal requests for the Immigration Services Funding (ISF) Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23. ISF Grantees awarded funds for FY 2021-22 are eligible to submit a renewal request for FY 2022-23. Funding determinations will be based on the Grantee’s FY 2021-22 ISF grant performance, administrative capacity, and ability to meet the CDSS funding criteria. Please review and complete the FY 2022-23 renewal form to determine if your organization continues to meet the funding criteria. Only service categories that were approved in FY 2021-22 will be considered and there is no guarantee all services your organization applies for will be funded. Incomplete renewal requests or ineligible requestor organizations may not be considered. The CDSS has sole discretion in selecting the qualified nonprofit legal services organizations that will be awarded ISF. The CDSS reserves the right to distribute funding based on regional and programmatic needs. Note, all current ISF Grantees and Program Administrator Subgrantees must complete and submit a renewal form. The final award will be detailed in the final grant for services (Agreement) or via Notice of Award.
To learn more about the ISF renewal form, program details, and eligibility requirements, please review the links below:

ISF Direct Service Grantees Renewal

• ISF Direct Service Grantee Renewal Form - Fillable PDF, updated 10/6/2022.

ISF PA Subgrantee Renewal

• ISF PA Subgrantee Renewal Form - Fillable PDF, updated 10/6/2022.

Additional Renewal Documents

• ISF Renewal Appendix B - Trust Fund Eligibility Self-Assurance Form, if applicable
• ISF Renewal Appendix C - Subgrantee Proposed Award Worksheet, if applicable. Email your primary analyst, PA or immigrationservices@dss.ca.gov for this document. 
• Payee Data Record (STD 204)

Removal Defense Program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is pleased to announce the availability of $22.5 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2024 for the Removal Defense (RD) Program. As authorized by Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 13302-13307, the CDSS funds eligible nonprofit organizations to provide pro bono removal defense services throughout California. 

For Fiscal Year 2022-24 the CDSS is implementing programmatic updates to improve service delivery and streamline implementation. Key updates include the following: 

• Transitioned from an annual application for funding to every other year application and extended grant terms to two-and-a-half years to allow for grant closeout. Closed the RFA competitive process until FY2024-25.  
• Expanded the CDSS administration oversight to incorporate a statewide Program Administrator (PA). The PA is a nonprofit organization who meets the State and program eligibility criteria and has administrative capacity to act on behalf of CDSS in managing designated programs and program funding. The PA will administer overall funding and subgrant services to eligible grantees. CDSS will maintain sole discretion over grantee selection and final award amounts.
• Transitioned deliverable reimbursement to staffing model that funds practitioners to complete a certain number of case matters.    
• Increased legal training and technical assistance support for RD subgrantees.  
• Transitioned the RD Services for Minors to the Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors (UUM) Program. This will allow services to minors to be jointly funded under one targeted and specialized funding area. Interested organizations may apply for UUM funding here. 

To learn more about the RD RFA, program details, eligibility requirements, and to apply for funding, please review the documents below: 
  
RD RFA and Application 

• RD RFA and Application 
• RD Subgrantee Budget Proposal Template (email your primary analyst or immigrationservices@dss.ca.gov for this document) 

Additional Application Documents  

• RD RFA Appendix 1 -Self-Assurance Form 
• RD RFA Appendix 2- Trust Fund Eligibility Self-Assurance Form, if applicable
• RD RFA Appendix 3 -Applicant Reference Form 
• RD RFA Appendix 4 -Subgrantee Worksheet, if applicable
• Payee Data Record (STD 204) 

FY 2022-24 RD RFA Orientation Webinar Slides

FY 2022-24 RD RFA Orientation Webinar FAQs

ISF Program Administrator

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is accepting a competitive Request for Application (RFA) to establish the Program Administrator (PA) model within the Immigration Services Funding (ISF) program. The PA model aims to streamline the ISF program by executing timely agreements, ensuring prompt reimbursement, and improving reporting processes at regional levels. Designated PAs will assist CDSS to fulfill the administrative requirements to implement the ISF program at regional levels. PAs shall be nonprofit organizations which meet State and program eligibility criteria and have the administrative capacity to manage designated programs and funding. The PAs will subgrant services to regional ISF subgrantees. CDSS will maintain sole discretion over regional ISF subgrantee selection and final award amounts.

• PA Request for Application (fillable PDF)
• PA Program Budget Template

ISF Awarded Organizations by Fiscal Year

• FY 2020-21
• FY 2021-22

ISF and RD Invoice Forms

• FY 20-21 ISF Invoice Form
• FY 20-21 RD Invoice Form
• FY 19-20 RD Invoice Form

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