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
Family First Prevention Services Flow Chart Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Public Consulting Group
03/25/19
Family First Advocacy Toolkit Advocacy Tools, Opinion Overview / General
Federal
American Academy of Pediatrics
03/25/19
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
Federal
Generations United
03/26/19
NARA Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards Advocacy Tools, Guidance Overview / General
Federal
American Bar Association
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Generations United
03/26/19
Crosswalk Tool for Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards. Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Guidance Kinship, Overview / General
Federal
Generations United
03/26/19
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
OVC FY 2019 Reducing Child Fatalities and Recurring Child Injuries Implementation Strategies Child Fatalities, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
03/28/19
Public Comment on Prevention Services Data Collection Guidance Prevention
Federal
Casey Family Programs
03/30/19
Family Based Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Technical Assistance Project by Building Bridges Initiative Guidance, Implementation Strategies Prevention
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Other
03/30/19
How does Native American Connections’ Patina Wellness Center help parents in treatment and recovery stay with their children? Real Story, Case Study Pregnant & Parenting, Prevention
Arizona
Casey Family Programs
03/30/19
Family-Based Residential Treatment Directory of Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs for Parents with Children Advocacy Tools, Implementation Strategies Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Other
03/31/19
Keeping Kids in Families Advocacy Tools, Data / Research Older Youth / Chafee, Overview / General
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
04/03/19
Bringing Medicaid and Managed Care Partners into the Implementation Process Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar, Constituent Engagement, Implementation Strategies Prevention, QRTP / Congregate Care
Federal
Other
04/03/19
Kansas Legislative Efforts to Implement Family First State Teams, Implementation Strategies Prevention, QRTP / Congregate Care
Kansas
Other
04/03/19
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
Engaging Philanthropy in Improving Child Well-Being Outcomes Opinion, Guidance, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Casey Family Programs
04/10/19
Oregon's Family First Implementation & Policy Workgroup State Teams, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Oregon
Other
04/17/19
The Court’s Role in Reshaping the Child Welfare System to Focus on Prevention Presentation/Webinar, Implementation Strategies Courts, Prevention
Federal
Other
04/17/19
Compiled Q&A on Family First (includes answers from Administration for Children & Families) Guidance Overview / General
Federal
Other
04/22/19
What Is Prevention and Why Is It Important? Guidance Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/23/19
Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of Standards and Procedures Guidance Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
04/26/19
Supporting All Families: Financing Streams to Support Prevention Programs Advocacy Tools
Other
04/30/19
Responsibly Defining Candidacy within the Context of Family First Act: Five Principles to Consider. Advocacy Tools, Opinion Prevention
Federal
Other
05/01/19
Maximizing Equity with the Family First Act Advocacy Tools, Presentation/Webinar Overview / General
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
05/06/19
Casey Family Programs Family First Prevention Services Act Summary - Updated Law / Summary Overview / General
Casey Family Programs
05/07/19
Partnering with Birth Parents to Promote Reunification Advocacy Tools Overview / General
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
05/10/19
Bass, Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Assist with Transition in Child Welfare Funding News Overview / General
Federal
Senate / Congress
05/14/19
Introduction to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Standards & Procedures Presentation/Webinar Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Other
05/14/19
Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care: Systems Leaders Data Tool Kit Data / Research Pregnant & Parenting
Federal
Annie E. Casey Foundation
06/02/19
Family First Readiness Assessment, Planning and Initial Implementation: Chapin Hall Capacity, Planning Framework and Suite of Tools Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
Other
06/04/19
Evidence Based Practice Index Data / Research Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Public Consulting Group
06/05/19
Letter to States: Transitional Payments for IV-E Prevention Programs Guidance Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/06/19
Prevention Services Clearinghouse Website Data / Research Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
06/20/19
Family Voices United: A Podcast on Mental Health Supports Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Prevention
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Birth Parent National Network
FosterClub
Generations United
06/21/19
Family Voices United: Perspectives on Mental Health Advocacy Tools, Constituent Engagement Overview / General
Federal
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Birth Parent National Network
FosterClub
Generations United
06/26/19
Family-Based Residential Treatment Advocacy Tools
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Other
06/30/19
Legal Professional Roles: Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
American Bar Association
07/05/19
Family First can change the narrative for teens in foster care Opinion, Real Story Older Youth / Chafee, QRTP / Congregate Care
Iowa
Other
07/05/19
Implementation Questions for Legal Community Engagement Advocacy Tools, State Teams, Implementation Strategies Overview / General
Federal
American Bar Association
07/11/19
Oregon Senate Bill 171 State Teams, Implementation Strategies QRTP / Congregate Care
Oregon
Other
07/11/19
Kentucky Delegation Letter to Senator McConnell State Teams, Implementation Strategies Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, QRTP / Congregate Care
Kentucky
Other
07/15/19
Promoting Understanding of Community Connections in Home Visiting: State of Available Data and Future Opportunities Data / Research Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
Child Trends
07/17/19
ACYF-CB-PI-19-06: Transitional Payments for Title IV-E Prevention and Family Services and Programs Program Instructions Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
07/18/19
Putting Families First in DC: Title IV-E Prevention Plan Five-Year Executive Summary State Teams, Title IV-E Prevention Plan Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
District of Columbia
Other
07/21/19
Supporting Evidence Building in Child Welfare Project News Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
07/30/19
Bridging the Intersection between Domestic Violence and Child Welfare: The Greenbook and Family First Presentation/Webinar Courts
Federal
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
07/31/19
How does Children’s Village reflect the components of a Qualified Residential Treatment Program Case Study QRTP / Congregate Care
New York
Casey Family Programs
08/01/19
Virginia Department of Social Services - Family First State Teams, Guidance Overview / General
Virginia
Other
08/06/19
ACYF-CB-IM-19-03 -Family, Children and Youth Voice, Engagement, and Empowerment; Continuous Quality Improvement; System-Change Efforts Constituent Engagement, Guidance
Federal
Federal HHS/ACYF/CB
08/06/19
Family Preservation Services: An Assessment of Recent DCFS Performance and Outcomes: SFY 2019 - Arkansas Data / Research Prevention
Arkansas
Other
08/06/19
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