1. Family First Prevention Services Act
Historic Child Welfare Reforms will Improve Outcomes
for Vulnerable Children & Families
Stefanie Sprow, Children’s Defense Fund

2. “The my child test”

3. Every child deserves a family
“The my child test”
Every child deserves a family

4. “The my child test” Every child deserves a family
Families should get the help they need to safely care for their child

5. Family First Prevention Services Act
“The my child test”
Family First Prevention Services Act

6. Family First Prevention Services Act
“The my child test”
Family First Prevention Services Act
PASSED!

7. Why do we need Family First?
Background
Why do we need Family First?

8. Background: Financing 101
Title IV-E biggest pot of federal child welfare money
Guaranteed funding
Majority of federal funds only available for foster care
Need funds for upfront prevention services
Source: Child Trends, Child Welfare Financing Survey SFY 2014

9. Background:
Too many children in group care

10. Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Background:
Number of children in foster care is growing
Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

11. Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Background:
Number of children in foster care is growing
Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

12. Source: Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) FY2016
Background: Opioid epidemic devastating families & overwhelming child welfare systems
Source: Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) FY2016

13. Source: Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) FY2016
Background: Child welfare relying more on kinship families
Source: Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) FY2016

14. Family First Prevention Services Act enacted February 9, 2018

15. Family First Prevention Services Act
Today’s focus: Opportunities and implications for kinship families under Family First
Prevention Services and Treatment
Kinship Navigator Programs
Licensure of Relatives

16. Prevention Services & Treatment
Beginning October 1, 2019, Title IV-E funds available for eligible services to prevent entry/reentry into foster care:
Eligibility:
“Candidates” for foster care
Including children at risk of re-entry foster care (e.g. children whose adoption or guardianship is at risk of disruption/dissolution)
Parents
Relative caregivers
Pregnant or parenting foster youth
Duration:
12 months (no lifetime limit)

17. Prevention Services & Treatment (Continued)
Prevention Services and Programs
Types of eligible services and programs:
Mental health prevention and treatment
Substance abuse prevention and treatment
In-home parent skill-based programs (parent skills training, parent education, home visiting, individual and family therapy)

18. Prevention Services & Treatment (Continued)
Prevention Services and Programs
Trauma-informed
Approved evidence-based programs: promising, supported, well-supported
HHS to release pre-approved list of services and programs this fall
HHS to provide technical assistance, best practices and a clearinghouse
No income-test! All children and families eligible, regardless of income

19. Prevention Services & Treatment (Continued)
All of the new reforms in prevention services and programs are optional….

20. Prevention Services & Treatment (Continued)
Action Steps!
Identify prevention programs that could work under Family First
Don’t re-invent the wheel
Advocate for services to kinship families not in the child welfare system
Help families understand new benefits, pros and cons

21. Kinship Navigator Programs
Title IV-E funding for certain Kinship Navigator Programs
Need to be evidence-based (i.e. promising, supported, well-supported)
No income-test! All children and families eligible, regardless of income
Open to any kinship families, do not need to be “candidate for foster care”
Statewide or focused within localities
Effective October 1, 2018

22. Kinship Navigator Programs
(Continued)
Action Steps!
Learn about and advertise the benefits of kinship navigator programs
Support kinship navigator programs’ efforts to document effectiveness/benefits

23. Licensure of Relatives
Improving licensing standards for relative foster homes
HHS will release model licensing standards October 1, 2018
States must notify HHS how they compare to the model standards by April 1, 2019
Goal is to make it easier for relatives to become licensed foster parents with access to supports and services

24. Licensure of Relatives
(Continued)
Action Steps!
Make sure changes to licensure are relative-friendly
Share stories and examples of barriers to licensure for relatives
Promote the right voices

25. Overview of Changes for Kinship Caregivers
Before Family First:
Most federal child welfare funds for foster care
Services only for child
Income test to qualify for federal funds
No federal funds for Kinship Navigator Program
Many barriers to licensure for kin
Family First:
New federal child welfare funds for prevention
Prevention funds for child, parent and kinship caregivers
No income test
Federal funds for Kinship Navigator Program
Helps states identify barriers and best models for licensing kin

26. Other Changes that Impact Kin
Family participation in residential group settings for children
Extends Chafee services to age 23 and Educational Training Vouchers to age 26
Improves interstate placements for foster care, adoption and guardianship
Continues the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment program

27. Family First Prevention Services Act
Continue the status quo or seize the new opportunities under Family First
If it were your child at stake, what would you choose?

28. Stefanie Sprow ssprow@childrensdefense.org For More Information
Deputy Director, Child Welfare and Mental Health
Children’s Defense Fund