Scip-2026 - state court improvement - basic program

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Supreme Court of Texas $5.486 million under the State Court Improvement Program (CFDA 93.586) on October 1, 2025.

The formula grant funds court improvement activities in Texas through September 30, 2027, including family preservation, reunification, guardianship, and adoption case proceedings, with emphasis on increased voluntary compliance with court orders and improved access to justice. The Supreme Court of Texas executes the award through partnerships with law schools, bar associations, dispute resolution centers, and legal aid services.

This award is one of four successive SCIP formula grants the Court holds as prime recipient, reflecting the program's five-year renewal cycle with annual updates. The Court also participates as a sub-recipient on the POLL LiveChat Project, a statewide unbundled legal advice service operating in partnership with the Texas Attorney General, which delivers pro se coaching and brief legal assistance to non-custodial parents on parenting-time-order matters via live chat in English and Spanish.

The State Court Improvement Program provides funding to state and tribal courts to improve court processes and legal representation quality through assessments identifying barriers to timely and effective decision-making. Federal approval time ranges from 30 to 120 days. Complete renewal applications for the formula program are accepted every five years with annual updates submitted in intervening years.