On March 19, 2019, Representatives (D) Democrat, Gwen Moore and Republican (R) Jackie Walorski held a Capitol Hill Roundtable discussion on how three states are implementing the (FFSA) Family First Prevention Services Act’s comprehensive law.
Laurie Anne Spagnola, President, and CEO, Board of Child Care, Maryland was one of three panelists selected including David Whelan, Vice President, Child Well Being, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; and Sharon Pierce, President, and CEO, The Villages of Indiana, Inc; to share their unique perspectives on FFSA. Also, the roundtable was organized to better inform future policy considerations, and to serve as a resource.
The Family First Prevention Services Act (H.R. 5456 (P.L. 115-123) was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act on February 9, 2018. This Act reforms the federal child welfare financing streams, Title IV-E and Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, providing services to families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system. The bill aims to prevent children from entering foster care by allowing federal reimbursement for mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and in-home parenting skill training. It also seeks to improve the well-being of children already in foster care by incentivizing states to reduce the placement of children in congregate care.
Click here for a Family First Prevention Services Act Fact Sheet