When the Family First Act passed in 2018, it included the ability for states and tribes to put their exisiting federal resources towards prevention and early intervention services to help keep children safe, stregnthen families, and reduce the need for foster care whenever it is safe to do so.
Why did the Family First Act Focus on Prevention?
- Prevention helps avoid maltreatment and abuse of youth
- Experiencing maltreatment and/or abuse can lead to depression, substance abuse, and developmental delays
- Prevention services help strengthen families and avoid unnecessary removals
- Removal from one's family of origin can be traumatic and lead to adverse long term effects in youth
- Prevention supports the economic growth and success of communities
- Providing prevention services reduces a child's chance of experiencing abuse and/or neglect, which in turn increases a child's chances of being able to engage in a successful career as an adult
- Prevention helps decrease funds spent on legal and criminal justice involvement related to child welfare investigations
- Prevention helps end cycles of abuse
- Youth who experience abuse are more likely to perpetrate abuse as adults. By preventing youth from experiencing abuse, prevention services reduce a youth's chances of perpetrating abuse as an adult
- Meaning: Prevention services reduce abuse rates for generations to come!
For more information on why prevention matters, check out these resources:
What is Prevention and Why is it Important?