ARTICLE TAG

Families First Act

6/22/2016

The Family First Prevention Services Act: A Mixed Bag of Reform

Earlier this month, the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (H.R. 5456) was finally introduced after more than a year of hearings and behind-the-scenes work by Congressional staff. The bill has two main purposes: to bolster federal investments to prevent entries into foster care, and to reduce the number of children and youth who are placed in congregate care settings.

6/8/2016

In Support of Prevention Funding, But Not at the Expense of Children in Foster Care

As I mentioned in a prior piece in this series, the federal child welfare advocacy community increasingly seems myopically focused on increasing federal funding for “prevention.” Unfortunately, few, if any, are able to paint a picture of what increased investment in prevention would look like.

3/3/2016

Learning from Great Britain’s Efforts to End Child Poverty

Results from Great Britain’s experiments in successfully reducing child poverty provide a blueprint for the U.S. to do the same, according to Columbia University researcher Jane Waldfogel. But waning enthusiasm for this initiative in England threatens its success.

2/17/2016

Dollars and Priorities: The Financing of Child Welfare

The Imprint will spend 2016 investigating how the federal government pays for child welfare, and the emerging momentum behind changing it. Currently, child welfare advocates, powerful charitable foundations and members of Congress are expressing urgency about reforming how the federal government supports state child welfare systems.

Youth Services Insider

1/29/2016

Lester: Evidence-Based Timeline of Families First Act Might Be Tough to Fulfill

Patrick Lester, who for years headed the public policy shop for the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, now leads the Social Innovation Research Center. He’s pretty much a one-man show there as he builds the organization, and he has primarily focused the center’s attention on pay-for-success and social impact bonds.

Blogger Co-op

1/27/2016

Families First Act Disregards Foster Care Shortage, Need for Some Group Homes

Congress appears to be on the right track with child welfare reform, as evidenced by a summary of the new Families First Act, which may soon be marked up by the Senate Finance Committee.

    1/26/2016

    Research Centers Offer Congregate-Care Policy Recommendations for States

    As the federal government considers legislation that would reduce federal spending on congregate care, researchers from two prominent research and policy centers suggest that states will have to better understand patterns of congregate-care placements in order to best support youth and families.

    Youth Services Insider

    1/13/2016

    Big Questions for Youth Services in 2016

    The curtain has closed on 2015, which was The Imprint’s third year of existence and our second full year of publishing. We have again more than doubled our page views. So Youth Services Insider begins with a hearty “Thank You” to anyone and everyone who read an article this year.

    1/5/2016

    Foster Youth and Advocates React to Proposed Families First Act

    Foster Youth in Action, a national foster youth advocacy organization, hosted a webinar just before the holidays wherein youth and advocates shared their thoughts on the proposed Families First Act and other policy issues.*