Legal Services Program
Can you apply?
This grant is for California nonprofit legal services organizations. Applicants must be qualified to provide legal representation for unaccompanied undocumented minors (UUMs) in immigration matters. Organizations must demonstrate organizational competence, past performance on UUM or immigration services contracts with CDSS, credibility, and capacity to reach eligible UUMs.
Funded legal services include representation in asylum, T-visa, U-visa, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) proceedings. Services cover state court, federal immigration court, and appeals. Applicants must provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services with attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, and support staff.
This grant is for California nonprofit legal services organizations. Applicants must be qualified to provide legal representation for unaccompanied undocumented minors (UUMs) in immigration matters. Organizations must demonstrate organizational competence, past performance on UUM or immigration services contracts with CDSS, credibility, and capacity to reach eligible UUMs.
Funded legal services include representation in asylum, T-visa, U-visa, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) proceedings. Services cover state court, federal immigration court, and appeals. Applicants must provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services with attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, and support staff.
Program description
The funding for legal services provided pursuant to this Agreement is for the 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, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), or other immigration remedies available to UUMs. 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 California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is accepting applications for Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors (UUM) Legal Services Funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020- 21 and 2021-22. The CDSS grants selected qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to provide 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, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), or other immigration remedies (OIR) available to unaccompanied undocumented minors. Qualified applicants can apply for the UUM Legal Services Funding by completing and submitting an application for funding. Please review the information below to determine if your nonprofit organization meets the qualification standards. Funding determinations will be based on an applicant’s ability to provide all the required services set forth in this Request for Application (RFA). There is no guarantee all services an applicant applies for will be funded. The final award1 will be detailed in the final grant for services (Agreement). Pursuant to the RFA process, the CDSS will select nonprofit legal services organizations that meet the qualifications and document the ability to provide all of the required services set forth in this RFA by organizational competence, as assessed from this RFA and past performance on UUM and Immigration Services Funding contracts or grants with CDSS, credibility, and capacity to reach and assist eligible UUMs.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for California nonprofit legal services organizations. Applicants must be qualified to provide legal representation for unaccompanied undocumented minors (UUMs) in immigration matters. Organizations must demonstrate organizational competence, past performance on UUM or immigration services contracts with CDSS, credibility, and capacity to reach eligible UUMs.
Funded legal services include representation in asylum, T-visa, U-visa, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) proceedings. Services cover state court, federal immigration court, and appeals. Applicants must provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services with attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, and support staff.
How to apply
Application links
Program contact
- 📧 UUMLegalServices@dss.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-651-8017
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 28 | — | 0% |
Source: California Grants Portal
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