The Family First Transition Act (FFTA), which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, aids states in implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (FFPSA). The FFPSA is landmark legislation, so implementing its changes at the state level have and will continue to be a heavy lift for administrators. With the magnitude of those changes in mind, the recently passed FFTA provides new reforms to promote services for children at imminent risk of out-of-home placement and family-based placement for those children who do enter foster care. It helps states, tribes and territories take advantage of the opportunities contained in FFPSA, so that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and loving family. PPC is proud to have joined other local and national organizations in support of this legislation.
FFTA also provides transition funding to states for the implementation of the FFPSA in three very important ways:
- Provide one-time, flexible funding to support implementation and reduce adverse fiscal impacts.
- Delay the phase-in of the FFPSA’s 50 percent “well-supported requirement” for prevention services funding.
- Provide short-term funding for states with expiring waivers.
The FFTA also contains funding for kinship navigator programs, like Pennsylvania’s Kin Connector Program. As the commonwealth plans to opt-in to the FFPSA by October 2020, PPC continues to take an active role in Pennsylvania’s implementation of the federal law and will continue to provide updates.