The Family First Prevention Services Act

The Family First Prevention Services Act, enacted in 2018, aims to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary foster care placement by providing funding for evidence-based prevention services such as mental health, substance use treatment, and family support programs. It encourages states to prioritize maintaining children safely at home and offers incentives to reduce reliance on group homes and institutional care. The law emphasizes early intervention, supporting families before crises emerge, and promotes a more trauma-informed approach to child welfare, ultimately seeking to improve outcomes for children and keep families intact whenever safely possible.