On May 22, 2024, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing, “The Family First Prevention Services Act: Successes, Roadblocks, and Opportunities for Improvement.” Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), one of the original sponsors and champions of the legislation, opened the hearing with some of the history of the passage of the bipartisan Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), noting that the main purposes were prevention, strengthening kinship care, and reducing the use of congregate care. He stated that FFPSA is a special priority of his, and he is committed to ensuring that it is implemented.
Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) gave an overview of the law during his opening statement, highlighting the changes that came with FFPSA. He also noted the continued slow progress of adding programs to the FFPSA Clearinghouse, which determines which programs can be reimbursed with FFPSA funds, and the struggles of rural communities to implementing FFPSA. Both Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo noted the need to support the mental health needs of youth in care.
Rebecca Jones Gaston, Commissioner for the Administration On Children, Youth, And Families (ACYF), shared, “I hear routinely from youth and families from across the country that have experienced the child welfare system that many of their families could have stayed safely together if support for their family’s housing, child care, mental health, substance use services, and/or other concrete needs had been met.” The Commissioner highlighted proposals in the President’s Budget that would support FFPSA and other means of providing concrete and economic supports and noted that the Administration has approved 47 Family First prevention plans to date. She also highlighted barriers to implementation, such as the workforce concerns that child welfare agencies are facing, the barriers for tribal programs, and the funding cut for the Clearinghouse in the budget.
David Reed, Deputy Director of Child Welfare Services of the Indiana Department of Child Services, spoke at length about the Indiana Family Preservation Services (INFPS) model, a new program that Indiana has created to teach families about protective factors, including concrete and economic supports when needed, to prevent removal and keep children safe. Indiana has cut their foster care population in half and has significant reductions in removal disparities. INFPS is being evaluated by the Clearinghouse.
JooYeun Chang, Program Director for Child Wellbeing at the Doris Duke Foundation, spoke about the need for a different response for children and families that come to the attention of child welfare for poverty alone. Ms. Chang made two recommendations: 1. Clarify who is eligible for Family First interventions to include children and families who are at risk of child welfare involvement, rather than just “candidate for foster care.” 2. Expand the scope of eligible prevention services to include services and support to address interpersonal violence, system navigation and care coordination, and material and concrete support for families.
Laurie Tapozada, a kinship caregiver, peer mentor, and Kinship Navigator professional from Rhode Island, shared both her personal and professional experience of the impact of FFPSA. Ms. Tapozada talked about the effectiveness of kinship navigator programs and the supports available, as well as the roadblocks, such as the difficulty for these programs to meet the Clearinghouse standards. She recommended focusing on peer mentor models, revising the evidence standards for kinship navigator programs, and including more funding for concrete and economic supports.
There were many themes that came up during the questions from the members of the Committee. Many members asked Ms. Tapozada questions about kinship care, giving her the opportunity to share more about the need for supports for kinship caregivers outside of the child welfare system.
The Clearinghouse was a major focus of the Committee members. Senator Wyden asked about evidence building, which Commission Jones Gaston responded to with information about funding for demonstration projects and evaluation. Ranking Member Crapo asked about services for rural communities. Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV) also focused on rural communities and noted the shortage of foster families and the lack of programs for specific populations. Commissioner Jones Gaston shared the ACF is considering updates to the Clearinghouse Handbook that will allow adaptations of programs for specific populations. Senator Barrasso (R-WY) also noted the concerns for rural communities.
Several members of the Committee noted the need to address additional issues for families, such as housing and TANF, asking for better coordination at both the Federal and state level. Chairman Wyden, Senator Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Bennet (D-CO) all mentioned the legislation pending in the Senate that would expand the child tax credit (CTC). Senator Bennet noted that the CTC expansion during the pandemic cut childhood poverty in half and that researchers found that emergency room visits for child abuse and neglect fell after the implementation of the monthly tax credit payments.
“Aging out” was another theme. Senator Cardin asked about supporting young adults transitioning from foster care to independence, and Commissioner Jones Gaston noted requests in the President’s Budget for additional Chafee funding, flexibility to provide support beyond age 21, better coordination with the Department of Housing to utilize housing vouchers and other supports, and additional mental and behavioral health supports. Senator Warner (D-VA) also highlighted this issue, and the Commissioner noted the need to help young people build relational connections. Mr. Reed talked about the supports available, particularly extended foster care, but the need to prioritize family-based permanency. Ms. Chang recommended making sure that youth parents are made categorically eligible for prevention services. Ms. Tapozada emphasized focusing on kinship to build connection.
Senator Grassley asked about evidence-based programs for families with children who are adopted. Commissioner Jones Gaston mentioned the new National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services. Both Ranking Member Crapo and Senator Lankford (R-OK) asked specifically about faith-based providers, with Senator Lankford focusing on the new final rule about designated placements for LGBTQI+ youth in care.
Senator Bennet also asked about the need to reauthorize Title IV-B, recognizing that the two programs are complementary. Title IV-B is due for reauthorization, and the House Ways and Means Committee have held two hearings this Congress about the program.
