According to the advocacy organization, First Focus, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee is planning to consider new legislation known as the Family First Act in January 2016. The legislation would direct investments at keeping children safe and supported at home and in family-like settings. The Act addresses longstanding barriers in federal child welfare financing by providing targeted new investments in evidence-based prevention, intervention and post-permanency services and supports. The legislation is significant because it would allow states, for the first time, to access Title IV–E funds for investments in a range of services for children and families, including prevention and family services. The bill would also strengthen support for kinship families and reinforce existing goals of placing children in foster care in the least-restrictive setting appropriate to their needs. The bill also includes provisions to better ensure children, youth and families receive trauma-informed services and that child welfare staff and providers are well-trained to support families.
