Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was passed and signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act on February 9, 2018. Key provisions of the act reform the federal child welfare financial streams by redirecting funds to provide prevention services to families and limiting funds to residential group care. Under traditional Title IV-E requirements, the Title IV-E child welfare dollars were only available once a child was removed from their home. The law now expands the use of these child welfare dollars to provide evidence-based prevention services to children and their families who are imminent risk of entering foster care. Additionally, the new law made changes to what types of out-of-home placements would be eligible for child welfare dollars, focusing on placements in family foster care homes. States may opt to delay implementation of select provisions of the act. (Florida has opted for the delayed effective date.)