Family First Prevention Services Act
On February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - Public Law (P.L.) 115-123 which includes the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law. The FFPSA amends the Title IV-E foster care program and makes other revisions to the Title IV-B, subparts 1 and 2 programs. The FFPSA will enhance support services for families to help children remain at home and reduce the use of unnecessary congregate care placements by increasing options for prevention services, increased oversight and requirements for placements, and enchasing the requirements for congregate care placement settings. The FFPSA will:
- Support prevention services. The law gives states and tribes the ability to claim federal financial participation for providing eligible individuals with an array of approved foster care prevention services to strengthen families and keep children from entering foster care.
- Provide support for kinship (relative) caregivers through federal funds for evidence-based Kinship Navigator programs that link relative caregivers to a broad range of services and supports to help children remain safely with them.
- Establish new requirements for youth being placed in residential treatment programs and improves quality and oversight of intensive and trauma-based services.
- Requires access to family-based aftercare services to children at least six months post-discharge from STRTPs.
- Improve services to older and transition-age youth. Gives states the ability to provide services to former foster youth, up to age 23, who have aged out of foster care, as well as expanding eligibility requirements to the Education & Training Voucher (ETV) program.
Upcoming Training and Registration Information
Upcoming Reimagining Prevention Trainings for April and May
Training: FFPSA Part IV Technical Assistance Call
Date: Every Other Tuesday
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Registration Information: Contact the FFPSA inbox to receive the calendar invitation.
FAQs
To access all Q&As that were addressed in previous weeks’ FFPSA Part IV Technical Assistance calls, please click here.
To access FFPS FAQ’s, click the link below:
FFPSA Overview Webinar
Federal Law and Guidance:
California FFPSA Links and Resources
FFPSA Implementation Guidance
ACL 22-23 (March 10, 2022)
Family First Prevention Services Program opt-in process, state FFPS Program Block Grant allocation methodology and allowable activities
ACIN – 1-73-21 (September 8, 2021)
Family First Prevention Services Act Implementation In California
ACL 21-113 (September 30, 2021)
Assessments By A Qualified Individual (QI) For Placements In Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs) Under The Requirements Of The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) And Assembly Bill (AB) 153 (CHAPTER 86, STATUTES OF 2021)
ACL 21-114 (September 30, 2021)
Court Review And Case Plan Requirements For Placements In Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs Under California's Implementation Of The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Via Assembly Bill 153, Chapter 86, Statutes Of 2021
ACL 21-115 (September 29, 2021)
Nursing Services For Children And Nonminor Dependents In Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs
ACL 21-116 (September 30, 2021)
FFPSA Part IV Aftercare Requirements
Family First Transition Act (FFTA)
ACL 21-47 (April 20, 2021) - Family First Transition Act (FFTA) Transition Grant and Funding Certainty Grant for the Family First Prevention Act (FFPSA)
ACL 21-155 (December 22, 2021) - Family First Transition Act Transition Grant and Certainty Grant Reporting Requirements
FFTA Allocations
Allocation CFL 20/21-92 - Family First Transition Act Transition Grant Allocation
Allocation 20/21-103 - Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Certainty Grant Allocation
FFTA Claimings
Claiming CFL 20/21-91 - Claiming Instruction for the Federal Family First Transaction Act Transaction Grant