The Family First Prevention Services Act What Residential Providers - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Family First Prevention Services Act

What Residential Providers Need to Know

Lisette Burton, J.D. Vice President, National Advocacy & Public Policy

July 23, 2018

Agenda

• Background on the Family First Prevention

Services Act (FFPSA)

• Overview of the Law
• Answer to frequently asked questions
• Opportunities and action
• What’s happening in the field?
• Wrap Up

2

Background

3

What is the FFPSA?

• While passage of this impactful

legislation took some by surprise, advocates began work to pass this law several years ago.

• The Family First Prevention Services Act

was passed into law on February 9, 2018 as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

• The law expands the use of federal Title

IV-E child welfare entitlement dollars to prevent entry into foster care, and it restricts funds for out-of-home care that is not a foster family home.

Background

5

What is the FFPSA?

• While passage of this impactful

legislation took some by surprise, advocates began work to pass this law several years ago.

• The Family First Prevention Services Act

was passed into law on February 9, 2018 as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

• The law expands the use of federal Title

IV-E child welfare entitlement dollars to prevent entry into foster care, and it restricts funds for out-of-home care that is not a foster family home.

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018

Multiple Provisions Focused on Children & Families:

– CHIP Reauthorization – extended for total of 10 years – Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting

(MIECHV) Reauthorization for five years

– Community Health Clinics reauthorized – Supporting Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for

Results

– Family First Prevention Services Act

6

Background

7

What is the FFPSA?

• While passage of this impactful

legislation took some by surprise, advocates began work to pass this law several years ago.

• The Family First Prevention Services Act

was passed into law on February 9, 2018 as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

• The law expands the use of federal Title

IV-E child welfare entitlement dollars to prevent entry into foster care, and it restricts funds for out-of-home care that is not a foster family home.

Family First Prevention Services Act Parts 1-3

Prevention Activities Under I V-E (optional)

• Funds child room and board when placed with a

parent in a family residential substance abuse treatment facility

• Funds promising, supported, and well-supported:

– mental health and substance abuse prevention and

treatment provided by a qualified clinician

– In-home parent skill-based programs – How Long?

• for up to 12 months

– Who is eligible?

• “Candidates for foster care” and pregnant or parenting

foster youth.

• Promotes kinship navigator programs

8

Family First Prevention Services Act Part 4

Ensuring the Necessity of a Placement that is not a Foster Family Home (mandatory)

• After two weeks, only certain out-of-home

care placements are eligible for federal reimbursement (per placement, not per foster care episode!)

• 4 “Specified Setting” categories

1. Programs for pregnant/parenting youth 2. Independent living programs for youth 18+ 3. Programs serving youth who have been or are at risk of sex trafficking 4. New classification of residential intervention called a Qualified Residential Treatment Program

9

Family First Prevention Services Act Part 4 continued

Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)

• Must be licensed and accredited
• “Qualified Individuals” (not employed by the

state or affiliated with any provider) will need to conduct assessments and approve placement within 30 days

• Judges will need to approve placement within

60 days and at regular status hearings

• Clinical and Nursing staff will need to be
• nsite according to the treatment model and

available 24/7

• Providers must maintain documentation of

family engagement, including contact with siblings

• Requires 6 months of post-discharge support

and family-based aftercare

10

Family First Prevention Services Act Part 4

Ensuring the Necessity of a Placement that is not a Foster Family Home (mandatory)

• After two weeks, only certain out-of-home

care placements are eligible for federal reimbursement (per placement, not per foster care episode!)

• 4 “Specified Setting” categories
• 1. Programs for pregnant/ parenting youth
• 2. I ndependent living programs for youth

18+

• 3. Programs serving youth who have been or

are at risk of sex trafficking

4. New classification of residential intervention called a Qualified Residential Treatment Program

11

FAQ: Do I have to become accredited?

FAQ: What does this mean for small group homes?

Become a foster home?

• Foster homes defined as:

– Home of an individual or

family

– This means that the term

may no longer include “group homes, agency-

• perated boarding homes or
• ther facilities licensed or

approved for the purpose of providing foster care… ” as previously permitted in the regulatory definition at 45 CFR 1355.20(a) if that

facility is not the home of an individual or family.

Become a QRTP?

• New staff?
• New treatment model?
• Are you trauma-

informed?

• Can you become

accredited?

• Who can you serve best?

FAQ: Is there a size limit for providers of residential care?

• The term ‘child-care institution’ means a

private child-care institution,

• or a public childcare institution which

accommodates no more than 25 children,

• which is licensed by the State in which it is

situated * Watch out for the IMD Rule…

Impact

• Depends on how the regulations are written

– Impact will be different state by state – Prevention funding and out-of-home care limitations effective

October 2019 - states can request up to a two-year delay by November 9th

• New federal entitlement for prevention of entry into foster

care

– The opioid crisis is impacting child welfare systems nationwide – New state matching dollars are required

• Access to the right care at the right time

– Out-of-home care capacity is a challenge

• Potential impact on continuums of care

– Mental health – Juvenile Justice

What’s happening in the field?

States are at varying points in the planning process

– Examples: Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Louisiana,

Florida, North Carolina

– Many states are discussing a delay to allow time to

plan

State Budget Considerations Financial Support for Implementation Efforts

– If funding were available, what would your priorities

be?

16

What’s happening in the field?

• Are you participating in an FFPSA workgroup led by your

state child welfare agency?

• Is your state or local provider association taking

coordinated action regarding FFPSA?

• Does your individual organization have a coordinated

plan to influence and respond to FFPSA implementation?

• Does your organization currently provide, or have

interest in providing, mental health, substance use disorder, and/or in-home parent skill-based services that could help prevent entry into foster care?

17

Opportunities

• Don’t forget about the Florida Quality Standards

for Residential Care

• Beyond the QRTP

…how do you fit into your state’s continuum of care?

• Mandated aftercare services should improve

long-term outcomes for youth with greater needs

• The field needs our collective expertise

Take action!

• Track and inform

rulemaking by HHS

• Take part in

implementation at the state and local level

• Continue to educate

staff and partners

19

Stay informed!

20

Human Resources Subcommittee Hearing on The Opioid Crisis: Implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 10:00 AM

Contact information:

Lisette Burton Lisette.Burton@boystown.org