Preparation for Family First Prevention Services Act Implementation

For the first time, FFPSA allows funds previously only available for foster care payments to be used to keep families together. In July 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services requested public comment on the development of a clearinghouse of prevention programs that can be implemented with FFPSA funding. ZERO TO THREE submitted comments on the comprehensive approach of our Safe Babies Court Teams in meeting the needs of individual families through integrated services.

Also in July 2018, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on The Opioid Crisis: Implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) to provide oversight of the implementation of the new law. In response, ZERO TO THREE urged the Committee to consider how best to maximize the effectiveness of services provided, to use the law’s potential to transform culture and practice, and above all, to meet families’ needs in a comprehensive manner that leads to healthier lives and thriving children.