Giving Compass' Take:

• J.B. Wogan reports that the Family First Prevention Services Act provides federal funding for evidence-based state programs that keep families together, rather than only funding services provided after families are split apart. 

• How can philanthropists fund research on evidence-based programs for states? What programs are already proving successful? 

• Learn why the opioid epidemic increases the importance of this funding.

In February, Congress made a bipartisan deal that avoided a government shutdown and raised spending limits for defense and non-defense programs. The deal's immediate budget implications grabbed most of the headlines at the time, but tucked into the legislative package was the biggest change in almost 40 years in how child welfare is funded.

Months later, states and localities are still trying to figure out what the new Family First Prevention Services Act means for them and whether they have enough time to comply with it.

Under the new law, the federal government will offer unprecedented support for keeping families together. In the past, the federal government would only reimburse states for child welfare services that were delivered after children were removed from their homes. Starting in October 2019, states can also be reimbursed for services that keep children safely at home with their families.

For the first time, a pot of money formally known as Title IV-E funds will be available to states for targeting parents and caretakers of children being considered for foster care. The feds will reimburse states for up to 12 months of evidence-based programs aimed at keeping families together, which often include mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and in-home parenting classes.

To pay for the new prevention services, Congress is trying to shift money away from group homes.

Read the full article about Family First Prevention Services Act by J.B. Wogan at Governing Magazine.