June 2016. On Tuesday, June 21, the Families First Prevention Services Act passed with bipartisan support. This bill will change the SSA Title IV to enable states to provide prevention services and supports to children at risk of entering the child welfare system. These services and supports include mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parent skill-based programs designed to improve children’s safety, permanency and well-being. ATN supports this bill, and is especially pleased that the bill includes ALL families, including those formed by adoption (domestic, internationally or private) as well as kinship and guardianship families. ATN also supports the bill because it calls for trauma-informed practices and addressing trauma by use of trauma-specific interventions.
The companion Senate Bill (S. 3065) was introduced on June 16 and is currently in the Senate Finance committee for review. It is currently being sponsored by Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).
To see the full House bill, click here. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5456
