Family First Act in Montana
The Family First Prevention Services Act will restructure many aspects of existing child welfare systems. In particular, it will allow states to use federal funds to pay for prevention services to keep children safely with families and out of foster care. In the past, this funding could only be used after a child was in foster care. Now services can be provided to children and families to prevent the need for foster care.
The new law also creates federal standards for congregate care providers to help ensure children are safe, receive appropriate treatment, and stay connected to their families while in group home placements. October 2021 will mark the federal deadline for all states to implement the Family First Act. Implementing the Family First Act in Montana will take place with input from many stakeholders, including former and current foster youth, foster families, child welfare providers, tribal governments, local lawmakers, state officials and other community partners.
Knowledge to Action: Family First Act Blog
Jeff Folsom, our Director of Policy, has been studying the development and the details of the Family First Act since it became law. He intermittently uses this space to report news, share resources, and pose important questions as we in Montana take steps to adopt Family First requirements.
To read previous blogs, check out Knowledge to Action or click on the blog titles below.
- Prevention Services & New Tools
- What is Family Voice Curious?
- Well-being, Connectedness & Unconditional Commitment
- Family Engagement During Out-of-Home Placement
- Covid-19 & Family Engagement
- Living the Pandemic of 2020
- Webinar: FFPSA Title IV-E Prevention Program Implementation Updates
- QRTPs and Some Sobering News
- State Road Map and Timelines Are Here!
- Family First Big Kickoff into 2020
- Motivational Interviewing as a Prevention Service
- Family First Plan Approved for Washington, DC
- Implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act in Montana
- Answers to QRTP Questions & Engaging Youth and Families
Family First Prevention Services Act Toolkit
Describes time commitments, costs, and training needs for services that have been reviewed by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and received a rating of Well Supported, Supported, or Promising.
Briefly describes prevention services that are culturally tailored to support American Indian families.
Provides a one-page summary of how to submit programs to the Clearinghouse for review.
Identifies catalogs of evidence-based practices in the fields of human services, health, behavioral health, early childhood, and child protection and juvenile justice. Also includes resources on adapting evidence-based practices for different environments and to increase cultural competence.
Lists organizations that fund trauma-informed and prevention services in Montana.
List of approved prevention services
Provides rationale and action steps for identifying a network of supportive adults for all children entering out-of-home placement.
Provides rationale and action steps for engaging the families and caregivers for all children in group homes.
Toolkit on how to deeply embed family engagement into an agency’s everyday function. Includes organizational self-assessments, guides on implementing family-inclusive language and practices and resources on becoming family voice curious and incorporating family voice in health services, schools, courts, health services, and the child welfare system.
Recommendations for Improving Permanency and Well-Being: A Resource for Agencies and Courts
Summarizes recommendations from the Youth Engagement Team of the Administration for Children and Families on supporting youth in kinship placements, supporting relational permanency, and supporting successful older youth adoptions.
Presents the case for transforming your agency to become fully trauma-informed, for the benefit of clients and staff.
Describes how family engagement lays a foundation for excellent trauma-informed care.
Discusses trauma-informed requirements under FFPSA.
Identifies catalogs of evidence-based practices in the fields of human services, health, behavioral health, early childhood, and child protection and juvenile justice. Also includes resources on adapting evidence-based practices for different environments and to increase cultural competence.
Lists organizations that fund trauma-informed and prevention services in Montana.
The Family First Prevention Services Act created a new designation of congregate care: the Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP). QRTPs serve children with specific treatment needs who are in short-term placement out of their homes. To become a QRTP, an organization must use a trauma-informed model of care, maintain appropriate registered or licensed staff, and become fully licensed and accredited under one of three national accreditation organizations.
Provides rationale and action steps for identifying a network of supportive adults for all children entering out-of-home placement.
Table comparing key details of the three accrediting organizations: Council on Accreditation, The Joint Commission, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
Provides rationale and action steps for engaging the families and caregivers for all children in group homes.
Toolkit on how to deeply embed family engagement into an agency’s everyday function. Includes organizational self-assessments, guides on implementing family-inclusive language and practices and resources on becoming family voice curious and incorporating family voice in health services, schools, courts, health services, and the child welfare system.
Describes time commitments, costs, and training needs for services that have been reviewed by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and received a rating of Well Supported, Supported, or Promising.
Briefly describes prevention services that are culturally tailored to support American Indian families.
Outlines the state’s kinship navigation program.
Presents the results of phone interviews with leaders of Montana congregate care providers about their questions, challenges, and concerns related to FFPSA implementation.
Summarizes the input from a November 2018 meeting of providers regarding implementation of the FFPSA in Montana.
Notes from November 2018 meeting to begin process of planning for FFPSA implementation.
Briefly summarizes the FFPSA requirements.
Technical assistance from Children's Defense Fund & partners
National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council priority recommendations for addressing special populations in FFPSA implementation
Wide range of information on the act
Summaries, timelines, and full text of the act
Summary of the act's history and requirements
"CliffsNotes" guides to the provisions of the act
Full text of the legislation
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for kinship navigator programs