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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Constituent Engagement

Family Reunification LEAB Report

Child welfare is a complex and deeply sensitive field, where the lives of vulnerable children intersect with the intricacies of family dynamics and societal support systems. In the pursuit of... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

News

Official outlines efforts to divert WV children from residential care

Deputy Secretary of Children and Adult Services Cammie Chapman this week updated West Virginia lawmakers on the effort to reduce the state’s reliance on residential treatment facilities for children with... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Data / Research, News

Child poverty in the US jumped and income declined in 2022 as coronavirus pandemic benefits ended

Child poverty in the United States more than doubled and median household income declined last year when coronavirus pandemic-era government benefits expired and inflation kept rising , according to figures... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Data / Research

2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

Every single one of us, if we live long enough, is likely to experience being a family caregiver, needing a family caregiver, or both. Each year, more than 53 million... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Advocacy Tools, Data / Research

Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

Every day, four to eight children in the United States die from abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents or caretakers. No one knows the exact number, and... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Data / Research

The Elephant in the Room: The Role of Poverty in Child Maltreatment (Podcast)

What role do poverty and economic hardship play in child maltreatment and neglect? And how can child welfare systems prevent them? UW Professor of Social Work Kristen Slack will hare... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

News

Program for Central Florida foster teens promises alternative to group homes

Gaybrielle Crawford is the executive director of Love Made Visible . She entered the foster care system at nine years old and bounced around group homes until she aged out... (Read more)

Published Sep 19, 2023

Title Resource Type Topic Location Source Published
ACYF-CB-IM-19-04 Evaluation Plan Development Tip Sheet Program Instructions Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/13/19
Advancing Healthy Outcomes: Eight Ways to Promote the Health and Well-being of LGBTQ+ Youth Involved with Child Welfare through Family First Implementation Implementation Strategies Evidence-Based Practice, Older Youth / Chafee, Overview / General, Prevention
Federal
Other
08/19/19
Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action State Teams, Implementation Strategies Child Fatalities
Colorado
Other
08/19/19
Technical Bulletin on Title IV-E Prevention Program Data Elements Program Instructions Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/19/19
Kentucky Title IV-E Prevention Plan State Teams, Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Kentucky
Other
08/23/19
Questions on Medicaid program expenditures and prevention services requirements Program Instructions Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/28/19
Family First Act can fund needed services and supports for older youth in foster care Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Child Trends
08/28/19
Utah Title IV-E 5-Year Prevention Plan State Teams, Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Utah
Other
08/30/19
Utah submits Family First Act Prevention plan ahead of Oct. 1 start date (Press release) News Overview / General
Utah
Other
09/08/19
Next Programs and Services Planned for Systemic Review by the Clearinghouse News Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Other
09/08/19
Qualified Residential Treatment Programs Q&A from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Guidance QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Other
09/20/19
Arkansas Title IV-E 5 Year Prevention Plan State Teams, Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Arkansas
Other
09/23/19
Pivot to Prevention: Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families State Teams, Presentation/Webinar Prevention
Rhode Island
Other
09/23/19
Qualified Residential Treatment Program Assessments: Guiding Questions State Teams, Constituent Engagement QRTP / Congregate Care
Oregon
Other
09/23/19
Defining Candidacy: Guiding Questions State Teams, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Oregon
Other
09/23/19
Safely Preventing the Unnecessary Entry of Children into Foster Care through Meaningful Initial Hearings Presentation/Webinar Courts, Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Casey Family Programs
09/24/19
How can fathers and other constituent leaders inform Family First and other system change efforts? Real Story, Constituent Engagement, Guidance Prevention, Overview / General
Federal
Oregon
Casey Family Programs
09/27/19
Supporting States and Counties on the Path to Implementing the Family First Advocacy Tools Prevention
Mathematica
09/29/19
Family First Core Messaging Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
American Bar Association
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Birth Parent National Network
Casey Family Programs
FosterClub
Generations United
09/30/19
Nebraska's Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Plan State Teams, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Nebraska
Other
10/01/19
Historic Opportunity for Reform in Child Welfare: Prevention Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Federal
Other
10/01/19
Family Voices United: A Podcast on Supporting Kinship Families Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Kinship
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Birth Parent National Network
FosterClub
Generations United
Other
10/02/19
Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act - a Guide Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care, Prevention, Pregnant & Parenting, Courts, Child Fatalities, Evidence-Based Practice, Interstate Placement / NEICE, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship, Juvenile Justice, Adoption Assistance
Federal
American Academy of Pediatrics
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Children's Defense Fund
FosterClub
Generations United
Youth Villages
10/04/19
Nebraska Family First Workgroup Website State Teams Overview / General
Nebraska
Other
10/17/19
Youth & Alumni Priorities on Preventing Unnecessary Removal Advocacy Tools Prevention
FosterClub
10/21/19
New Child Welfare Policy Manual Q&A Updates: Allowable Administrative and Training Costs Program Instructions Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
10/22/19
Helping the Children of the Opioid Crisis: Supporting Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Constituent Engagement, Guidance Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
10/22/19
Webinar Recording:Historic Opportunity to Reform the Child Welfare System: Youth & Alumni Priorities on Preventing Unnecessary Removal of Children from their Families Advocacy Tools, Real Story, Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Federal
Other
10/22/19
Love as Destiny: A Former Foster Youth's Journey in Motherhood Real Story Older Youth / Chafee, Pregnant & Parenting
Federal
Other
10/25/19
Birth Parent National Network Webinar – Update on Family First Prevention Services Act (October 2019) Real Story, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Birth Parent National Network
10/25/19
Applying the Research and Evaluation Provisions of the Family First Prevention Services Act Data / Research, Guidance Evidence-Based Practice
Federal
Child Trends
10/25/19
Jurisdictional Candidacy Definitions 10.31.19 Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Arkansas
Kansas
Kentucky
Nebraska
Utah
Casey Family Programs
Other
10/29/19
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
Chapin Hall Candidacy Overview Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Casey Family Programs
10/30/19
Applying Family First in Washington, DC State Teams, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
District of Columbia
Other
10/30/19
Family First: Readiness Assessment, Planning, and Implementation Data / Research Prevention, Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
District of Columbia
Kentucky
North Carolina
Chapin Hall
10/30/19
Three Branch ToolKit & Webinar Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Casey Family Programs
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Governors Association
10/31/19
Reentry to Foster Care: Identifying Candidates Under The Family First Act Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Other
10/31/19
Teens Shouldn't Be Put in This Position Real Story Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Other
11/02/19
Family First Transition Act. (S. 2777/H.R. 4980) Implementation Strategies, Law / Summary Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Senate / Congress
11/05/19
Arkansas Revised Prevention Plan Nov. 2019 Submission (Draft) State Teams, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Arkansas
Other
11/05/19
Leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act to Improve Use of Title IV-E GAP Guidance Kinship
Federal
Tribal
American Bar Association
Children's Defense Fund
Generations United
11/13/19
Title IV-E funding for legal representation and Title IV-E funding for Family First Prevention Services. Guidance Courts, Prevention
Federal
American Bar Association
Casey Family Programs
11/13/19
Planning for Family First Prevention Services: Three Key Fiscal Elements to Consider Advocacy Tools
Annie E. Casey Foundation
11/17/19
Planning for Family First Prevention Services: Three Key Fiscal Elements to Consider Advocacy Tools
Annie E. Casey Foundation
11/17/19
Multi-State Overview of the Interventions that States Plan to Include in their Family First Prevention Plan and the Intervention Technical Reviews that Are Being Planned Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Casey Family Programs
11/20/19
North Dakota Family First Website State Teams Overview / General
North Dakota
Other
11/20/19
State of GrandFamilies Report: A Place to Call Home: Building Affordable Housing for Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
11/20/19
Family First Prevention Services Act: Implications For Addressing Youth Homelessness Advocacy Tools Older Youth / Chafee, Prevention
Federal
Other
11/20/19
Motivational Interviewing - Prevention Services Clearinghouse Rating Data / Research, Guidance Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Other
11/25/19
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