Domestic Abuse Referral Process

When a CalWORKs client discloses domestic abuse (DA), the Eligibility Worker (EW)/Associate Employment Counselor (AEC)/Employment Counselor (EC) should ask the client clarifying questions to determine if an emergency or a non-emergency referral should be initiated.

  • An emergency referral should be initiated if the client is actively fleeing a DA situation.
  • A non-emergency referral should be initiated in instances where the client has previously experienced DA and is seeking DA services.

Emergency Referral

The EW/AEC/EC must do the following when an emergency DA situation arises:

  • Provide the client with the 24-hour Support Line at 1-800-572-2782.
    • For emergency/unsafe situations, call 9-1-1.
  • Obtain verbal consent from the client to connect them with the CalWORKs Social Worker (SW)/Domestic Violence (DV) Advocate and to complete a referral.
  • Ask the client the following questions regarding their communication preferences:
    1. What are your preferred methods of communication (phone call, text, email, and/or mail)?
    2. What times of the day are safe and non-safe to contact you?
    3. Does the phone number on file belong to you?
    4. Is it safe to leave a voicemail at this number?
    5. Is it safe to ask for you by name if someone else answers the phone?
    6. Regarding email, does the person who harmed (PWH) have access to this email address?
  • Complete the Authorization for Release of Information (SCD 1029).
  • Contact the CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate, who is stationed at 1879 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 758-3500.
  • Once the client has been triaged by the CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate, complete a referral in the DEBS Referral App as follows:
    1. For the Program, select "CW" or "WTW" as applicable.
    2. For the Referral Type, select "Employment Services".
    3. For the Provider Name, select "Domestic Violence Prevention Provider".
    4. Document in the Referral Comments field:
      • Verbal consent was received from the client to process a DA referral.
      • The client's communication preferences, including safe and non-safe times of the day to contact the client.
    5. Attach the completed SCD 1029 to the referral.

Note: Refer to the DEBS Referral App User Guide for general instructions if needed.

  • Document in the CalSAWS Journal Detail page:
    • Verbal consent was received from the client to process a DA referral.
    • The client's communication preferences were added to the referral comments and case flag notes.

Note: Emergency referrals are assigned to a CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate immediately.

Non-Emergency Referral

The EW/AEC/EC must do the following when a non-emergency DA situation arises:

  • Obtain verbal consent from the client to connect them with the CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate and to complete a referral.
  • Ask the client the following questions regarding their communication preferences:
    1. What are your preferred methods of communication (phone call, text, email, and/or mail)?
    2. What times of the day are safe and non-safe to contact you?
    3. Does the phone number on file belong to you?
    4. Is it safe to leave a voicemail at this number?
    5. Is it safe to ask for you by name if someone else answers the phone?
    6. Regarding email, does the person who harmed (PWH) have access to this email address?
  • Complete the SCD 1029.
  • Complete a referral in the DEBS Referral App as follows:
    1. For the Program, select "CW" or "WTW" as applicable.
    2. For the Referral Type, select "Employment Services".
    3. For the Provider Name, select "Domestic Violence Prevention Provider".
    4. Document in the Referral Comments field:
      • Verbal consent was received from the client to process a DA referral.
      • The client's communication preferences, including safe and non-safe times of the day to contact the client.
    5. Attach the completed SCD 1029 to the referral.

Note: Refer to the DEBS Referral App User Guide for general instructions if needed.

  • Document in the CalSAWS Journal Detail page:
    • Verbal consent was received from the client to process a DA referral.
    • The client's communication preferences were added to the referral comments and case flag notes.

The CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) Client Services Technician (CST):

  • Assigns the case to a CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate.

DA Case Flag

The EW or AEC/EC who submits a DA referral is responsible for adding a DA case flag in CalSAWS as follows:

  • On the Case Flag Detail page, the referring EW/AEC/EC must click the [Select] button in the Title field and select [Domestic Abuse].
  • The Begin Date field should be the same date the DA referral was submitted.
  • The End Date field should be set for 30 days from the Begin Date.
  • The Notes field must include the client's communication preferences, including safe and non-safe times of the day to contact the client.

Once the CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate completes and sends the CalWORKs Domestic Abuse Participation Status (SCD 1554) to the EW/AEC/EC, the EW/AEC/EC who submitted the DA referral will revise the End Date field to match the End Date listed on the SCD 1554.

CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate Actions

Refer to the CalWORKs SW/DV Advocate Actions section of CWES Handbook Domestic Abuse (DA) - Referral Process.

Related Topics

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse Forms and Supporting Documentation

Domestic Abuse Good Cause

Program Requirements that Can be Waived

Domestic Abuse Exemption/Extender

Battered Non-citizen Status