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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State Teams

Washington Family First Website

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) embraces Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) implementation as an opportunity to expand the choices and support we provide to... (Read more)

Published Jun 29, 2021

image shows text that reads: GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives
Advocacy Tools

GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Grandchildren

Generations United has released fully updated versions of GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children. These fact sheets for kinship caregivers include state-specific data and programs,... (Read more)

Published Jun 23, 2021

image shows text that reads: Family First Evidence-Based Practices Exploration and Cost Tool
Advocacy Tools

Family First Evidence-Based Practices Exploration and Cost Tool

Chapin Hall has released the Family First Evidence-Based Practices Exploration and Cost Tool, which is designed to help jurisdictions select evidence-based programs or practices for their Family First prevention plan... (Read more)

Published Jun 23, 2021

Guidance, Implementation Strategies

Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Reporting Guide for Study Authors

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children & Families has released the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Reporting Guide for Study Authors. This guide details... (Read more)

Published Jun 23, 2021

Constituent Engagement

Family Voices on Mental and Behavioral Health Supports

In April 2021, Family Voices United asked caregivers, parents, and youth, “Sometimes a parent's mental or behavioral health (including addiction) leads to a child entering foster care. What specific type... (Read more)

Published Jun 23, 2021

Opinion

National Reunification Month: Remembrance, Recognition, and Respect by Associate Commissioner Aysha E.Schomburg

To honor June as National Reunification Month, Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg of the Children's Bureau wrote an article to celebrate families coming together, and reflected on the history of... (Read more)

Published Jun 23, 2021

Advocacy Tools

Keeping Families Strong and Together: Prevention Strategies in Child Welfare

CA Child Welfare Co-Investment Partnership In this issue of insights provides a framework for prevention and family strengthening strategies guided by data on disparities in child welfare involvement, including innovative... (Read more)

Published May 14, 2021

Title Resource Type Topic Location Source Published
Washington Family First Website State Teams QRTP / Congregate Care, Prevention, Pregnant & Parenting, Overview / General, Older Youth / Chafee, Kinship
Washington
Other
06/29/21
GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Grandchildren Advocacy Tools Kinship
Federal
Generations United
06/23/21
Family First Evidence-Based Practices Exploration and Cost Tool Advocacy Tools Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Federal
Chapin Hall
06/23/21
Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Reporting Guide for Study Authors Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/23/21
Family Voices on Mental and Behavioral Health Supports Constituent Engagement Prevention, Kinship
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
FosterClub
Generations United
06/23/21
National Reunification Month: Remembrance, Recognition, and Respect by Associate Commissioner Aysha E.Schomburg Opinion Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/23/21
Keeping Families Strong and Together: Prevention Strategies in Child Welfare Advocacy Tools Evidence-Based Practice
California
Other
05/14/21
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
Federal
FosterClub
Juvenile Law Center
05/12/21
ACYF-CB-PI-21-07 Program Instructions Overview / General
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
05/05/21
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Older Youth Pandemic Relief: National Youth Awareness Campaign Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance, Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee
Federal
FosterClub
Juvenile Law Center
Other
05/05/21
National Policy Council Webinar: Supporting Foster Youth & and Families: Leveraging New Opportunities Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies
Federal
Casey Family Programs
FosterClub
04/29/21
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Older Youth Advocacy & Direct Cash Assistance Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance, Implementation Strategies Older Youth / Chafee
California
FosterClub
Juvenile Law Center
04/28/21
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts: A Tool for Improving Outcomes for American Indian Children and Families Guidance, Implementation Strategies Courts, Evidence-Based Practice
Federal
Tribal
Other
04/26/21
ACYF-CB-PI-21-06 Program Instructions Overview / General
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/21/21
Reimagining Child Welfare: Recommendations for Public Policy Change by American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Tools Prevention
Federal
American Academy of Pediatrics
04/16/21
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
Iowa's Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan Title IV-E Prevention Plan Evidence-Based Practice
Iowa
Other
03/12/21
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 Five-Year Title IV-E Prevention Program 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
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