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 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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Nebraska’s Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan 2020 (3rd edition)
Title IV-E Prevention Plan

Nebraska’s Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan 2020 (3rd edition)

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services mission to “Help people live better lives.” The vision of the Division of Children & Family Services (CFS) includes utilizing the Family... (Read more)

Published Apr 16, 2021

2021/2022 Prevention Resource Guide
Advocacy Tools

2021/2022 Prevention Resource Guide

This resource by Child Welfare Information Gateway is a significant revision of the popular Office on Child Abuse and Neglect publication in more than 15 years. This year’s Resource Guide... (Read more)

Published Apr 1, 2021

Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies

Family First Planning & Readiness Toolkit

Chapin Hall developed a toolkit to help child welfare agencies implement the first phase of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The Family First Planning and Readiness Toolkit include a... (Read more)

Published Apr 1, 2021

image shows text that reads: Implementation of Older Youth Provisions
Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar

Implementation of Older Youth Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act

FosterClub and Juvenile Law Center featured Child Welfare Leaders from Illinois and Kentucky to share implementation examples and highlights of the Older Youth Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Child... (Read more)

Published Mar 31, 2021

Recommendations for Prioritizing Children in Opioid Settlement Funding
Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies

Recommendations for Prioritizing Children in Opioid Settlement Funding

First Focus on Children and Families USA provided detailed recommendations for how governors, attorneys general (AGs), state children’s cabinets, legislatures, state advocates, city and town councils, and other stakeholders should... (Read more)

Published Mar 26, 2021

Advocacy Tools

Family-Centered Reunification

This report by The National Quality Improvement Center on Family-Centered Reunification offers an overview of the state of the research evidence about interventions designed to promote reunification and presents a... (Read more)

Published Mar 25, 2021

image shows text that reads: Older Youth Federal Guidance Webinar
Guidance, Implementation Strategies

Implementing ACYF-CB-PI-21-04 Older Youth Federal Guidance Webinar

The Children’s Bureau issued the Program Instruction for the Supporting Foster Youth and Families Act Program Instruction on March 9th. This document is crucial to the effective and quick implementation... (Read more)

Published Mar 17, 2021

Title Resource Type Topic Location Source Published
Nebraska’s Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan 2020 (3rd edition) Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention
Other
04/16/21
Family First Planning & Readiness Toolkit Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Chapin Hall
04/01/21
2021/2022 Prevention Resource Guide Advocacy Tools Prevention
Federal
Other
04/01/21
Implementation of Older Youth Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
FosterClub
Juvenile Law Center
03/31/21
Recommendations for Prioritizing Children in Opioid Settlement Funding Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Other
03/26/21
Family-Centered Reunification Advocacy Tools QRTP / Congregate Care, Prevention
Federal
Other
03/25/21
Implementing ACYF-CB-PI-21-04 Older Youth Federal Guidance Webinar Guidance, Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Tribal
FosterClub
03/17/21
Family First Act Kinship, Youth Alumni, and Parent Learning Session Presentation/Webinar, Implementation Strategies Overview / General, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/11/21
Congregate Care in the Age of Family First Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/11/21
ACYF-CB-PI-21-05- Implementing Kinship Navigator Funding in Consolidated Appropriations Act Program Instructions Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/09/21
ACYF-CB-PI-21-04 - Implementing Older Youth Provisions in Consolidated Appropriations Act Program Instructions Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/09/21
Child Welfare Financing Survey for state fiscal year (SFY) 2018 Advocacy Tools, Financing
Federal
Tribal
Child Trends
03/09/21
Ending the Use of Harmful and Unnecessary Institutions and Other Group Facilities in Child Welfare Systems Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
03/02/21
Family First Kinship Checklist Guidance, Implementation Strategies Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
03/01/21
Strategies to Build Evidence for Kinship Navigator Programs Under the Family First Act Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Kinship
Federal
Child Trends
03/01/21
Oregon's Title IV-E Prevention Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention
Oregon
Other
02/26/21
Current Status of Approved/Submitted Title IV-E Prevention Program Five-Year Plans Title IV-E Prevention Plan
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
02/18/21
ACYF-CB-PI-21-02 - Updated guidance on applying for FY 2022 CIP Funding Program Instructions Courts
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
02/12/21
Maintenance of Effort Worksheet Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Other
Public Consulting Group
02/10/21
Grandfamilies and Kinship Care Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, February 9, 2021 Webinar Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement COVID-19, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
American Bar Association
Children's Defense Fund
Generations United
02/09/21
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021: Implications for Grandfamilies News, Law / Summary COVID-19, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
02/09/21
Reframing Childhood Adversity: Promoting Upstream Approaches Advocacy Tools Prevention
Federal
Other
02/01/21
Family-Centered Treatment 2021 White Paper on Reunification Advocacy Tools Prevention
Federal
Family Centered Treatment Foundation
02/01/21
ACYF-CB-IM-21-06: Utilizing Title IV-E Funding to Support High Quality Legal Representation Financing, Guidance Overview / General, Courts
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/14/21
ACYF-CB-IM-21-04: Clarification on Family First Services and Cultural Adaptation for Tribes Title IV-E Prevention Plan, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/13/21
ACYF-CB-IM-21-05: NEW LEGISLATION – Public Law (P.L.) 116-260 Guidance, News COVID-19, Courts, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/13/21
ACYF-CB-IM-21-02: Civil Legal Advocacy to Promote Child and Family Well-being, Address the Social Determinants of Health, and Enhance Community Resilience Guidance Courts
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/12/21
ACYF-CB-IM-21-03: Emerging Transformed, Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance Overview / General, COVID-19
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/12/21
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
ACYF-CB-IM-21-01: Achieving Permanency for the Well-Being of Children and Youth Guidance Overview / General, Courts, Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
01/05/21
OhioKAN: Building Evidence for Kinship and Adoption Navigation Services Data / Research, Implementation Strategies Kinship
Ohio
Chapin Hall
01/01/21
2020 Taught Us How to Not Fail Our Children Opinion Prevention, Kinship
Federal
Other
01/01/21
New Factsheet: Parental Substance Use: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Other
01/01/21
Historic Opportunity to Reform the Child Welfare System: Youth & Alumni Priorities on Older Youth Successful Transition to Adulthood Real Story, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Prevention, Courts, Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
Foster Care Alumni of America
FosterClub
12/31/20
What Parents Say About: Supporting Families to Provide a Strong Start for Their Young Children Real Story, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Federal
Iowa
South Carolina
Birth Parent National Network
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
12/30/20
Chapin Hall Builds National Understanding of Pandemic’s Impact on Families Data / Research, Guidance COVID-19
Federal
Chapin Hall
12/21/20
A Guide for the Legal Community: The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 Constituent Engagement, Guidance Courts
Federal
Tribal
American Bar Association
12/21/20
Recommendations from ACF Youth Engagement Team: Improving Permanency & Well-Being Real Story, Constituent Engagement, Guidance Prevention, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship, Adoption Assistance
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
12/15/20
Redefining Judicial Leadership: Stories of Transformative Practice State Teams Courts
Federal
Tribal
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
12/11/20
Grandfamilies Share Stories of COVID-19 Hardships and Hope Real Story Kinship
Federal
Tribal
Generations United
12/06/20
Letter to the Field from Assoc. Commissioner Jerry Milner: Ensuring the Continuation of Critical Court Hearings Guidance Courts
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
12/04/20
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
Implications of COVID-19 on the Research and Evaluation Provisions of Family First Advocacy Tools COVID-19
Child Trends
12/01/20
Webinar Recording: Parents and Caregivers: A Community-based Multidisciplinary Approach to Strengthening Families Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Tribal
American Bar Association
Birth Parent National Network
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
12/01/20
Congregate Care in the Age of Family First: Family Engagement Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Tribal
Other
11/30/20
Every Kid Needs a Family Website Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care, COVID-19, Courts
Federal
Tribal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
National Association of Counsel for Children
11/23/20
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
Transforming Child Welfare Systems to a 21st Century Model that Strengthens and Supports Families and Communities: Innovations from the Field Implementation Strategies
Federal
Tribal
Within Our Reach
11/22/20
Letter to Child Welfare Leaders: IV-E Prevention Program Stafford Act flexibilities Program Instructions, Title IV-E Prevention Plan, Implementation Strategies Prevention, COVID-19
Federal
Tribal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
11/20/20
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
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