The Family First Prevention Services Act was passed in 2018. Among other things, it allows states to fund preventative services, to address family needs, for children and families at risk of out-of-home placement (this term is defined by states, with federal approval). This federal legislation incentivizes state funding of preventative services by allowing states to tap into Title IV-E funds as a federal match to a state’s investment in their child welfare system (IV-E is for foster care and adoption assistance and has, historically, been accessed after out-of-home placement occurs with few exceptions on a demonstration basis). This is a significant change, shifting investments upstream.

Specifically, categories of eligible prevention services will include:

1. Mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment
2. In-home parent skill-based programs that include parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling
3. Kinship navigator programs

Minnesota’s planned implementation date for these changes is the beginning of state fiscal year 2022 – July 1st, 2021. Initial stakeholder meetings are working toward our state’s definition of “at risk of out-of-home placement”. Once implemented, this definition will determine the point at which social service agencies may intervene with preventative services (and access federal reimbursement).

County child protection workers have a uniquely close perspective of when children are at risk of out-of-home placement. This perspective is needed as Minnesota decides what our definition will be and ties federal funding to this definition. 

The next meeting to continue this work will be Monday, December 16th from 1:30-4:00. Meeting location: MN Counties Intergovernmental Trust Building, 100 Empire Drive, St. Paul, MN 55103.