Family Voices United Family First Peer Learning Session

On March 11th, 2021 Family Voices United held a peer learning session with parents, kinship caregivers, and foster youth alumni, on the Family First Prevention Services Act, New Opportunities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, and successful constituent engagement in Family First Implementation. 

This Peer Learning Session provided the following: 

• Refresher on Family First Act provisions and updates on status.

• How the voices of lived experience educated policymakers. 

• Examples of successful constituent engagement. 

• New funding opportunities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. 

• Tips and resources for constituents looking to get involved in Family First implementation.

View the webinar recording here > > >

View the slides here > > >

Tools & Resources

Family Voices United Perspective Papers

• FVU paper on Mental Health 

• FVU paper on Supporting Kinship Caregivers

Constituent Voice Memes

• FVU voice meme on supporting older youth

Family Voices United Podcasts

FVU Podcast on strengthening families and opportunities with prevention support

Reach out to Family Voices United at info@familyvoicesunited.org for questions about this learning session or Family First implementation. 

Visit www.familyfirstact.org for information on the Family First Prevention Services Act.

Family First Prevention Services Act, signed into law in February 2018, includes long-overdue historic reforms to keep children safe and strengthen families. The Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law on December 27, 2020 gives significant flexibilities to implementing the Family First Act that can bring critical support services to the lives of families who are involved in the child welfare system. Many of these critical supports are available once states, tribes, and jurisdictions submit a Family First Prevention plan to the federal government. However, only 10 jurisdictions have approved plans and another 11 jurisdictions have submitted their plans for review. Join us to learn about the Family First Act, new supports and funding opportunities, and how those with lived expertise in the system can influence better outcomes for children and families.