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
Technical Bulletin on Title IV-E Prevention Program Data Elements Program Instructions Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/19/19
Systemic Approaches to Addressing Child and Family Trauma are Key to Fully Leveraging Family First Implementation Strategies Evidence-Based Practice
Chapin Hall
04/05/23
Systemic Approaches to Addressing Child and Family Trauma are Key to Fully Leveraging Family First Advocacy Tools Prevention
Chapin Hall
07/30/20
SYP: What are the EARLY warning signs that a family might be approaching a crisis? Advocacy Tools COVID-19
FosterClub
05/21/20
Supportive Virtual Family Time Program Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Other
04/21/20
Supporting States and Counties on the Path to Implementing the Family First Advocacy Tools Prevention
Mathematica
09/29/19
Supporting Parenting and Expectant Teens in Foster Care Advocacy Tools
Other
09/17/20
Supporting Evidence Building in Child Welfare Project News Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
07/30/19
Supporting Clients in Under-resourced Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Child Trends
05/29/20
Supporting Child, Caregiver and Family Well-Being in Times of Crisis: Strategies to Promote Effective Virtual and Phone Engagement Guidance COVID-19
Federal
Tribal
Other
09/30/20
Supporting All Families: Financing Streams to Support Prevention Programs Advocacy Tools
Other
04/30/19
Supporting & Strengthening Our Nation’s Families: A Blueprint for the Development of Strong Networks of Family Resource Centers Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Other
09/19/23
Support Letter for Family First Transition Act Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Federal
Children's Defense Fund
11/27/19
Support for kinship care is an investment that can benefit families and children Advocacy Tools, Opinion, Real Story Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Iowa
Generations United
Other
12/04/20
Support for Family-Focused Residential Treatment-Title IV-E and Medicaid Guidance Guidance Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
Other
10/05/20
Supplemental funding under Title IV-B, Subpart 1 of the Act to prevent, prepare for, or respond to, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Program Instructions
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/07/20
Summary of Title IV-E Maintenance Claiming Opportunity for Non-Foster Family Home Settings Guidance QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Public Consulting Group
02/10/20
Summary of Programs Rated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse (as of April 7, 2023) Data / Research Overview / General
Casey Family Programs
04/24/23
Summary of Family First Presentation/Webinar, Law / Summary Overview / General
Family Focused Treatment Association
02/08/18
Strengthening Youth Mental Health A Governor’s Playbook Data / Research Prevention, Overview / General
Federal
National Governors Association
08/21/23
Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Generations United
08/14/23
Strategies to Build Evidence for Kinship Navigator Programs Under the Family First Act Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Kinship
Federal
Child Trends
03/01/21
Strategies for Reducing Inequity Advocacy Tools
Other
08/28/20
Strategies for Defining Family First Candidacy Criteria Financing
National Council on Crime & Deliquency
12/11/19
Strategies For Addressing The Comprehensive Needs Of Students And Families Through Community Schools And Wraparound Supports Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Tribal
National Governors Association
01/09/23
Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Strategies for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement Advocacy Tools
Other
12/31/17
Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Strategies for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Other
02/20/19
Status of Submitted Title IV-E Prevention Program Five-Year Plans Title IV-E Prevention Plan, News Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/04/20
Status of Family First Prevention Plans Title IV-E Prevention Plan Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Casey Family Programs
10/04/23
Status of Family First Prevention Plans Data / Research, Implementation Strategies Prevention, Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Other
11/14/22
Status of Family First IV-E Prevention Claiming Title IV-E Prevention Plan
Federal
Tribal
Casey Family Programs
10/04/23
States can improve supports for infants and toddlers who are in or at risk of entering foster care Advocacy Tools Prevention
Child Trends
02/26/20
Statement Regarding Safe Courts and Access to Justice During COVID-19 from NCJFCJ Advocacy Tools COVID-19, Courts
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
05/14/20
State-level Data for Understanding Child Welfare in the United States Data / Research Kinship
Federal
Child Trends
10/28/20
State-level Data for Understanding Child Welfare in the United States Data / Research Overview / General
Federal
Child Trends
05/08/23
State-level Data for Understanding Child Welfare in the United States Advocacy Tools, Guidance Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Child Trends
04/22/22
State Presentation on the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE) Clearinghouse Presentation/Webinar Interstate Placement / NEICE
American Public Human Services Association
02/05/19
State Policy Options to Increase Access to Economic & Concrete Supports as a Child Welfare Prevention Strategy Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Tribal
American Public Human Services Association
Chapin Hall
08/14/23
State of GrandFamilies Report: A Place to Call Home: Building Affordable Housing for Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
11/20/19
State Action on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advocacy Tools
National Conference of State Legislatures
06/03/20
Spotlight on the Title IV-E Prevention Program and the Family First Prevention Services Act Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
02/13/23
Spotlight on Reunification Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research, Guidance, Implementation Strategies, News Overview / General, Evidence-Based Practice, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/20/23
Spotlight on National Child Abuse Prevention Month News Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/10/23
Spotlight on Creating a More Equitable Child Welfare System Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Data / Research, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
10/04/23
South Carolina Title IV-E Prevention Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan
South Carolina
Other
06/26/23
Share Your Perspective: As states move towards reopening, what supports would help you and your family make that transition most successful? Advocacy Tools
Other
07/10/20
Senator Wyden's Letter to Oregon Senator Gelser Celebrating Oregon's Family First Implementation Plan Opinion, State Teams, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Oregon
Senate / Congress
03/12/19
Seizing the Opportunity: 10 Ways to Advance Equity Through Family First Advocacy Tools
Other
11/30/18
Seen, Heard, and Represented: A Policymaker’s Guide to Counsel for Kids Law / Summary Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
National Association of Counsel for Children
05/08/23
Seeing Beyond COVID-19 Pandemic and Creating Change for Vulnerable Children and Ensuring Safety and Stability for Vulnerable Children and Families Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Other
07/30/20
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