Family First Prevention Services Act

The effort to pay for more residential foster care with Medicaid money, a controversial proposition, has begun anew in Congress.

A federal survey found that more than half of states reported the Family First Act has yet to accomplish its goal of reducing the number of foster youth in group homes.

Opinion: Family preservation is not the problem, but when services are piecemeal, under-resourced or lack timely oversight, children remain at risk.

Congressional intern Dylan Evans proposes more federal investment in substance use treatment as a prevention tool, and kin caregiver support.

For a more preventive child welfare system, we must move away from the idea that it is solely the function of CPS to keep kids safe.

Becky Shipp, a key Senate staffer on child welfare issues for many years, has passed away at the age of 63. 

The White House used a four-hour public convening on child welfare last week to announce some clarifications to federal policy for the field. Those were made by updating the Child Welfare Policy Manual (CWPM), an online reference presented in a “Q&A” fashion.

A recent New York appeals court ruling reinforces the authority of family court judges when youth are placed in residential facilities.

Last month, the clearinghouse that greenlights foster care prevention services approved several iterations of a mental intervention known as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, as well as a positive reinforcement approach to treating substance abuse.