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 >

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
Higher Education Retention of Young Adults who have experienced Foster Care Constituent Engagement Older Youth / Chafee 04/10/23
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Housing Assistance for Youth with Experience in Foster Care During the Pandemic and Recovery Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance, Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee 05/12/21
Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 Summary Law / Summary Overview / General 01/29/19
Implementation of Older Youth Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar Older Youth / Chafee 03/31/21
FamilyVoicesUnited.org Advocacy Tools, Real Story, Constituent Engagement Overview / General 02/20/19
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Older Youth Advocacy & Direct Cash Assistance Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance, Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee 04/28/21
Family First Core Messaging Advocacy Tools Overview / General 09/30/19
Grandfamilies Share Stories of COVID-19 Hardships and Hope Real Story Kinship 12/06/20
Family Reunification LEAB Report Constituent Engagement Prevention, Overview / General 09/19/23
FAQ on National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards Guidance Kinship 02/25/19
Connecting Generations: Finding Intergenerational Activities Within Your Community Opinion Prevention, Overview / General, Kinship 09/25/23
Family First Prevention Services Act: Implications for Grand-families Presentation/Webinar Kinship, Overview / General 02/05/19
Family First Kinship Checklist Guidance, Implementation Strategies Kinship 03/01/21
Tip Sheet- Latino Grandfamilies: Helping Latino Children Thrive through Connection to Culture and Family Data / Research Kinship 06/12/23
Let's keep children in their family, if they can't be with their mothers Opinion Kinship, Overview / General 02/05/19
Grandfamily Caregiver Tip Sheets Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Kinship 07/17/23
Kinship Navigator Programs Around the United States Advocacy Tools, State Teams Kinship 05/08/23
Family Voices United: A Podcast on Supporting Kinship Families Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Kinship 10/02/19
KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS - SUMMARY & ANALYSIS Law / Summary Kinship 01/29/19
5 Years of Empowering Families: Expert Panel on the Family First Act Presentation/Webinar Overview / General 05/30/23
Family Voices United: A Podcast on Mental Health Supports Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Prevention 06/21/19
Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use Data / Research Kinship 04/17/23
LGBTQ2S+ Support Share Your Perspective Paper Constituent Engagement Prevention, Overview / General 09/19/23
GRANDFACTS: EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS FACT SHEET FOR KINSHIP/GRANDFAMILIES Constituent Engagement Kinship 07/24/23
Promoting Peer Support in Child Welfare Data / Research Overview / General 09/25/23
COVID-19 and Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools COVID-19 04/20/20
New Opportunities for Kinship Families: Action Steps to Implement the Family First Prevention Services Act in Your Community Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement, Law / Summary Kinship 02/05/19
Grand Resource: Help for Grandfamilies Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance Use Part 2 Data / Research Kinship 04/17/23
Using New Federal Funding Opportunities to Develop Effective Kinship Navigator Programs Presentation/Webinar Kinship 12/04/18
Generations United COVID-19 Resources Advocacy Tools COVID-19 04/20/20
Fact Sheet: Children Thrive in Grandfamilies Data / Research Kinship 06/05/23
Adoption and Guardianship for Children in Kinship Foster Care Law / Summary Adoption Assistance, Kinship 02/05/19
Family Voices United Podcast: Strengthening Families & Keeping Kids out of Foster Care Constituent Engagement, Guidance 01/06/20
FAQ on the National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards Law / Summary Overview / General 02/12/19
Family Voices on Mental and Behavioral Health Supports Constituent Engagement Prevention, Kinship 06/23/21
Helping the Children of the Opioid Crisis: Supporting Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Constituent Engagement, Guidance Kinship 10/22/19
Family First Prevention Services Act Brief Summary: Implications for Grandfamilies Law / Summary Kinship 12/18/18
Webinar Recording: Leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act to Improve the Use of Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program Presentation/Webinar, Implementation Strategies Kinship 12/11/19
2020 State of Grandfamilies in America Annual Report: Facing a Pandemic: Grandfamilies Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement Kinship 09/30/20
Support for kinship care is an investment that can benefit families and children Advocacy Tools, Opinion, Real Story Kinship 12/04/20
State of GrandFamilies Report: A Place to Call Home: Building Affordable Housing for Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools Kinship 11/20/19
LGBTQ2S+ Support LEAB Discussion Report Constituent Engagement Prevention, Overview / General 09/19/23
Strengthening Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Overview / General 08/14/23
Racial Equity Toolkit Featuring American Indian and Alaskan Native Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools 07/24/20
Improving State and Tribal Foster Family Home Licensing Standards: Complying with the Family First Prevention Services Act’s Licensing Requirements. Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance Kinship, Overview / General 03/26/19
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 10/04/19
Racial Equity Toolkit Featuring African American Grandfamilies Advocacy Tools 07/24/20
Let’s Talk About It: Supporting Grandfamilies’ Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Webinar Presentation/Webinar Kinship 06/20/23
Family Voices United Podcast: Constituent Engagement Constituent Engagement, Guidance Overview / General 01/06/20
GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Grandchildren Advocacy Tools Kinship 06/23/21
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