The Family First Act: An unprecedented opportunity to transform child welfare

Kids should grow up in safe, stable and secure families who support their long-term well-being. Research makes it clear — growing up in a family is essential for all kids, especially those who have experienced abuse or neglect. Family First is an opportunity moment that offers exciting possibilities for us to be responsive to the specific needs of children, teens and families. 

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Family First Resource Database

This database has been compiled by partner organizations and contains links to resources relating to the Family First Act. Search by resource type, topic, geographic location, or source. Note that you may view two ways: summary and list.  Have a Family First resource that you think would be useful? Share it here >

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Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research

Relevant Trainings for Kin Caregivers and Those Who Work with Them

These trainings and curricula have not been reviewed or evaluated by the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network or Generations United and are not endorsed by these organizations. This list is... (Read more)

Published Sep 25, 2023

Data / Research, Implementation Strategies, Case Study

Kinship Promising Practices

Federal law, policy, and practice is shifting toward a kin-first culture, a child welfare system that consistently promotes immediate kinship placements, helps children in foster care maintain connections with kin,... (Read more)

Published Sep 25, 2023

Data / Research

Placement instability and its effects on the mental health of foster youth

The present study investigates the impacts of placement instability and how that can affect a foster youth’s mental health. There has been minimal research investigating this problem from the perspective... (Read more)

Published Sep 25, 2023

Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research

Building Protective Communities for Black Children and Families

Child Trends’ second annual Juneteenth webinar featured five panelists with extensive experience building protective communities for Black children and families. Panelists—who represented Philadelphia’s REBUILD initiative, the Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement... (Read more)

Published Sep 25, 2023

Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research

Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support

The nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support are designed to be used by all stakeholders – public departments, foundations, networks, community based organizations, and families - as... (Read more)

Published Sep 25, 2023

Constituent Engagement

LGBTQ2S+ Support LEAB Discussion Report

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the recent Lived Experience Advisory Board discussion on understanding & supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth in foster care. The discussion highlighted... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Constituent Engagement

LGBTQ2S+ Support Share Your Perspective Paper

The Family Voices United campaign surveyed birth parents, kinship caregivers, foster/resource and adoptive parents, and young people with experience in the child welfare system across the country to compile their... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Title Resource Type Topic Location Source Published
Blueprint for Practice: Chapin Hall’s Approach to Building and Sustaining a Practice Model Advocacy Tools
Chapin Hall
05/31/20
Bridging the Intersection between Domestic Violence and Child Welfare: The Greenbook and Family First Presentation/Webinar Courts
Federal
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
07/31/19
Bringing Medicaid and Managed Care Partners into the Implementation Process Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Prevention, QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Other
04/03/19
Brookings Institution: Driving better outcomes for children in foster care Presentation/Webinar, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
FosterClub
02/14/19
Building Capacity for Disaster Preparedness at a Child Welfare Agency Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Other
05/20/20
Building Communities of Hope: Creating a Better Future For Children & Families in a Time of Crisis Advocacy Tools
Casey Family Programs
09/24/20
Building Protective Communities for Black Children and Families Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research Overview / General
Federal
Child Trends
09/25/23
California Department of Social Services Executive Summary All County Letter Guidance COVID-19
California
Other
03/30/20
California Department of Social Services Executive Summary All County Letter Advocacy Tools COVID-19
California
Other
04/16/20
California Weighs More Robust Support for Aging-Out Foster Youth News Older Youth / Chafee
California
Other
08/28/23
California’s Five-Year State Prevention Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan
California
Other
04/10/23
Can reductions in child poverty impact involvement with child protective services? Journal Article Summary Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Casey Family Programs
08/28/23
CARES Act and Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Generations United
04/23/20
Caring for a Child Impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Data / Research Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Other
06/20/23
Casey Family Programs Family First Prevention Services Act Summary - Updated Law / Summary Overview / General
Casey Family Programs
05/07/19
Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Child Welfare Clients in Rural Communities Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/30/20
CHAMPS Policy Playbook Advocacy Tools Kinship, Overview / General
Federal
Other
12/23/18
CHAMPS Research Highlights Advocacy Tools, Data / Research Kinship, Overview / General
Federal
Other
04/01/18
Chapin Hall Builds National Understanding of Pandemic’s Impact on Families Data / Research, Guidance COVID-19
Federal
Chapin Hall
12/21/20
Chapin Hall Candidacy Overview Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Casey Family Programs
10/30/19
Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities 2018: Statistics and Interventions Data / Research Child Fatalities
Other
03/01/20
Child Abuse Deaths Disclosure Act Law / Summary Child Fatalities
Federal
Tribal
Senate / Congress
12/11/19
Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health Principles Data / Research Prevention, Overview / General
Other
09/11/23
Child Maltreatment Fatality Reviews: Learning Together to Improve Systems That Protect Children and Prevent Maltreatment Guidance Child Fatalities
Other
08/31/18
Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action State Teams, Implementation Strategies Child Fatalities
Colorado
Other
08/19/19
Child maltreatment prevention interventions for Latinx immigrant populations: a systematic review Data / Research, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Other
06/12/23
Child Maltreatment Report: 2018 Data / Research Child Fatalities
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/15/20
Child poverty in the US jumped and income declined in 2022 as coronavirus pandemic benefits ended Data / Research, News Prevention
Federal
Other
09/19/23
Child Safety Forward Implementation Study Final Report Data / Research Overview / General
Federal
Other
10/04/23
Child Safety Forward: A National Initiative to Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities and Injuries Through a Collaborative, Community-Based Approach Advocacy Tools
Other
08/28/20
Child Support and Child Welfare: CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
American Public Human Services Association
Other
06/12/23
Child Welfare and FFPSA Implementation Strategies
Federal
Other
04/05/23
Child Welfare Courts During a Public Health Crisis Advocacy Tools Courts
Juvenile Law Center
National Association of Counsel for Children
03/30/20
Child Welfare During the COVID-19 Emergency Guidance COVID-19
Public Consulting Group
04/16/20
Child Welfare Family Housing Voucher Briefs Data / Research Prevention, Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Other
08/01/23
Child Welfare Financing 201: Handout Packet Financing, Law / Summary Overview / General
Casey Family Programs
01/29/19
Child Welfare Financing Survey for state fiscal year (SFY) 2018 Advocacy Tools, Financing
Federal
Tribal
Child Trends
03/09/21
Child Welfare Financing Survey SFY 2016 Financing, Data / Research Overview / General
Child Trends
01/30/19
Child Welfare Policy Manual Q & A: Section 8.6C "Title IV-E Prevention Services Program, Administrative Functions/Costs" Financing, Program Instructions Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
11/18/20
Child Welfare Practice to Address Racial Disproportionality and Disparity Data / Research Overview / General
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/28/23
Child Welfare Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Law / Summary Prevention, Overview / General, Evidence-Based Practice, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Children's Defense Fund
01/10/21
Child Welfare Worker Safety in the Time of COVID: CDC Recommendations for In-Person Interactions with Families Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/10/20
Child Welfare: Purposes, Federal Programs & Funding Guidance Overview / General
Federal
Other
02/03/20
Children's Bureau Approves Arkansas Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan Implementation Strategies, News Prevention
Arkansas
Other
02/13/20
Children's Bureau COVID-19 Resources Guidance COVID-19
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/24/20
Children's Bureau Letter on Kinship Navigators and Transition Grants Financing, Guidance COVID-19, Kinship
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/01/20
Children's Bureau Webpage: Title IV-E Prevention Program Program Instructions, Guidance, Implementation Strategies, Law / Summary Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/04/20
Children's Bureau Webpage_Additional COVID-19 resources Program Instructions COVID-19
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/30/20
Children's Defense Fund Family First Act Detailed Summary Law / Summary Overview / General
Children's Defense Fund
01/31/19
Children’s Bureau Approves DC Child and Family Services Agency’s Federal Family First Prevention Plan Implementation Strategies, News Prevention
District of Columbia
Other
10/30/19
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