The Family First Prevention Services Act, signed into law in 2018, prioritizes keeping families together by putting money toward services for families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system. By funding services such as substance abuse treatment, in-home parenting training, and mental health services, the FFPSA hopes to prevent children from entering the foster care system. It also seeks to improve the well-being of children currently in foster care that are served in congregate care settings by elevating standards of care for delivery of those services.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families recently released guidance for
states
and
tribes
regarding foster care prevention and family services programs, including a list of prevention programs the department will prioritize for review. There are currently 13 programs under consideration and the results will be published this spring.
The services include:
- Substance Abuse Prevention: Motivational Interviewing, Multi-Systemic Therapy, Families Facing the Future, Methadone Maintenance Therapy
- Mental Health Services: Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Multi-Systemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy
- In-Home Parenting Skills: Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers
- Kinship Navigator Programs: New Jersey Kinship Navigator Model, KIN-Tech: Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model
In late 2018, DPHHS convened an interagency/cross-department project management team to oversee the execution of Family First. By integrating all aspects of the department — including Medicaid, TANF, Home and Community Services, Quality Assurance Division, and others — the department hopes to strengthen Montana’s roll-out of the new law. With support from the Montana Health Care Foundation, the Center is partnering with DPHHS and its project management team to help coordinate stakeholder involvement in the process.
The Center for Children, Families & Workforce Development continues to review other states’ operation plans and monitor federal guidance. The Center is actively seeking guidance and learning from national policy experts and others involved and dedicated in the successful roll out of the Family First Act. The
Center’s website
has more information on the Family First Prevention Services Act and will continue to update the site regularly regarding the implementation process in Montana.
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