FFPSA Regional Prevention Consultants

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a major piece of legislation in the United States aimed at reforming the child welfare system, significantly altering the federal financing structure for child welfare programming to provide for a greater investment in prevention.

FFPSA provides the legislative and funding pathway for the transformation of child welfare systems by enabling them to:

Reorient around prevention and family;
Increase quality family-based placements for children and youth who enter foster care;
Right-size congregate care to create effective continuum to meet needs.

High Quality Prevention Practices with Families

Preventing foster care placement through evidence-based prevention services and collaboration with local child welfare practitioners, community organizations, and families.

Regional Capacity Building

Building capacity of local systems to deliver effective prevention services and support families at risk of child maltreatment.

Promoting collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders within the child welfare system and community.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Establishing and aligning monitoring and evaluation metrics with the Tennessee Regional Prevention Consultant Project’s prevention frameworks and theory of change and focusing on data such as child maltreatment reports, referrals for support services, parent participation, FAST assessment and Prevention Plan reviews, and child safety outcomes.

Outcomes

Family-Level Outcomes

Reduced risk of child maltreatment and foster care placement: By providing families with access to appropriate prevention services and support, the model can help address underlying risk factors and strengthen family functioning, ultimately decreasing the likelihood of child maltreatment and out-of-home placements.
Improved child well-being and development: Access to evidence-based prevention services can promote positive parenting practices, enhance parent-child relationships, and address children’s social-emotional needs, leading to improved child well-being and development.
Increased family resilience and self-sufficiency: Through skill-building training, resource connection, and advocacy, families can become more resilient in managing challenges, leading to greater self-sufficiency and confidence in caring for their children.

System-Level Outcomes

Enhanced capacity of the region: Collaboration and technical assistance from regional prevention consultants can equip the region with the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively deliver and manage their prevention program.
Improved coordination and collaboration: The model fosters partnerships between DCS, community organizations, and families, leading to a more coordinated and efficient child welfare system with less siloed approaches.
Data-driven decision-making: Data analysis and evaluation of prevention programs inform policy and practice development, ensuring resources are utilized effectively and targeted towards interventions with the highest impact.
Reduced costs to the child welfare system: Preventing foster care placements and supporting families saves the child welfare system significant financial resources, allowing for reinvestment in prevention initiatives and other needed services.