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
Children’s Bureau suspending the Title IV-E Eligibility and National Youth in Transition reviews in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/09/20
Children’s understandings of gender-based violence at home: The role school can play in child disclosure Data / Research Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Other
05/23/22
Claiming Traditional and Prevention Candidates Under Family First Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Federal
Tribal
Public Consulting Group
04/30/20
COIVD-19: Foster Care and Education Advocacy Tools COVID-19
American Bar Association
Juvenile Law Center
Other
09/11/20
Colorado developing plan to implement housing voucher program for post-foster care young adults News Older Youth / Chafee
Colorado
Other
09/05/23
Colorado Family First Prevention Services Act Advisory Committee State Teams, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Colorado
Other
03/13/19
Colorado Five- Year Family First Prevention Services Plan Implementation Strategies Prevention
Tribal
Colorado
Other
10/31/22
Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program Implementation Strategies Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Other
02/13/23
Colorado Title IV-E Prevention Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan
Colorado
Other
07/10/23
COLUMN: Grandparents raising grandchildren News Kinship
Other
03/20/23
Commentary: Maine’s new plan to keep kids safe by keeping families strong News Prevention
Maine
Other
05/30/23
Comments from the National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council Addressing the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth Advocacy Tools
FosterClub
04/20/20
Comments on the clearinghouse of evidence-based practices under FFPSA Data / Research Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Child Trends
08/13/18
Communication Toolkit Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Annie E. Casey Foundation
02/07/19
Community Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/20/23
Comparison of Federal Requirements for Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP) & Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) Guidance QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Other
03/28/19
Compiled Q&A on Family First (includes answers from Administration for Children & Families) Guidance Overview / General
Federal
Other
04/22/19
Conceptualizing Community Pathways: Key Questions and Considerations Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Tribal
Chapin Hall
01/03/23
Congregate Care in the Age of Family First Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/11/21
Congregate Care in the Age of Family First: Family Engagement Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
11/30/20
Congregate Care in the Age of Family First: Trauma-Informed Care Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
11/03/20
Congregate Care in the Age of FFPSA Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/27/23
Congressional Briefing & Interviews: Addressing Disparities in Black, Indigenous & Rural Communities Advocacy Tools
Other
07/30/20
Congressional Committee Staff Presentation on PL 115-123 (Family First) Law / Summary Overview / General
Senate / Congress
02/05/19
Congressional Research Services FFPSA Detailed Summary Law / Summary Overview / General
Senate / Congress
01/29/19
Congressman Danny K. Davis Guide for Grandfamilies on COVID-19 Stimulus Payments Financing COVID-19
Other
04/12/20
Connecticut Family First Prevention Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention, Overview / General
Connecticut
Other
03/22/22
Connecting Generations: Finding Intergenerational Activities Within Your Community Opinion Prevention, Overview / General, Kinship
Federal
Generations United
Other
09/25/23
Connecting the Dots: A Resource Guide for Meeting the Needs of Expectant and Parenting Youth, their Children, and their Families Advocacy Tools, Guidance Pregnant & Parenting
Federal
Other
02/27/19
Consensus Statement on Group Care for Children and Adolescents: A Statement of Policy of the American Orthopsychiatric Association Data / Research QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Other
04/09/19
Considerations for Scaling Evidence-Based Prevention Programs under the Family First Prevention Services Act Title IV-E Prevention Plan, Data / Research, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Tribal
New York
Child Trends
11/23/20
Considerations for Tele-visit Sessions for Behavioral Health Family Centered Treatment® Practitioners Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Other
05/22/20
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021: Implications for Grandfamilies News, Law / Summary COVID-19, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
02/09/21
Cook County Health’s Project CHILD Releases Evaluation Report Highlighting Findings and Strategies to Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect Across Illinois News Prevention
Illinois
Other
07/17/23
Coordinating Prevention Services in the Community Advocacy Tools Prevention
Other
07/17/20
Coronavirus Funding for Child Welfare and Family Services News COVID-19
Other
04/21/20
Coronavirus Resources for Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Other
04/15/20
Counties kick off Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program News Kinship
Colorado
Other
09/25/23
Court Hearings for the Permanent Placement of Children Advocacy Tools
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/31/20
Court-Focused Technology Platform Comparison Guide Advocacy Tools Courts
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
05/20/20
Courtroom Questions to Address Education During COVID-19 Advocacy Tools
American Bar Association
03/31/20
COVID-19 and Child Welfare Cases Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar COVID-19
American Bar Association
04/08/20
COVID-19 and Child Welfare Caseworkers Advocacy Tools COVID-19
National Conference of State Legislatures
05/07/20
COVID-19 and Child Welfare: Using Data to Understand Trends in Maltreatment and Response Data / Research
Federal
Tribal
Chapin Hall
10/23/20
COVID-19 and Congregate Care Facilities Advocacy Tools COVID-19
National Conference of State Legislatures
05/13/20
COVID-19 and Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Generations United
04/20/20
COVID-19 and NCJFCJ Operations Update Advocacy Tools Courts
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
03/19/20
COVID-19 and Older Youth in the Child Welfare System Advocacy Tools COVID-19
National Conference of State Legislatures
05/13/20
COVID-19 and State Child Care Assistance Programs: Immediate Considerations for State CCDF lead Agencies Financing COVID-19
Other
04/08/20
COVID-19 for GrandFamilies & Multi-generational Families Guidance COVID-19
Federal
Generations United
03/24/20
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