Family First Transition and Services Act
In May of 2019, the Family First Transition and Services Act was introduced to Congress. The Bill, S. 1376, was proposed to amend parts B and E of Title IV of the Social Security Act to eliminate barriers to providing child welfare services for children and youth in need, to provide additional resources to implement programmatic changes necessary to meet the requirements of the Family First Prevention Services Act, among a few other things.
The Family First Transition and Support Act of 2019 is a bill that will help implement the Family First Act, which was signed into law in February of 2018. After the first bill was passed, states did not do much, if anything, to take steps to make programmatic changes for the child welfare system and foster care. Allowing for the first time in history, Title IV E funding to be used to prevent foster care, by providing services when the child is at imminent risk of entering the system. With the passage of the Family First Transition and Services Act of 2019, funding and revisions are making it possible for states to implement and better improve foster systems within their state. Under the Family First Prevention Services Act, there were 22 states with waivers expiring from the previous child welfare program. This legislation has many different parts, below are the 3 main takeaways.
It will provide $500 million to all states and jurisdictions distributed under title IV-B, part 1
States will have 2 years (from October 1, 2019) to spend the funds, improving and changing the way child welfare functions in some of the states
Funds can be spent on Child Welfare Services
Another major feature, it includes a delay in evidence-based spending thresholds
States must assure that at least 50% of the new spending is on well supported programs
Separate and not counting the additional $500 million, waiver states will be guaranteed at least 90% of their waver funding if they do not draw down that amount of funding under title IV-E
