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What They’re Saying: Family First Prevention Services Act

June 15, 2016

This week, House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan (R-FL) led a bipartisan group of Members in introducing H.R. 5456, the Family First Prevention Services Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation strengthens families by promoting evidence-based prevention services to keep children out of foster care and reduces inappropriate placements into group homes.

Organizations across the country have voiced their support for the bill because it:

“Not only recognizes the unique needs of children and families in adversity, but also makes great strides to meet them in a way that pediatricians can stand behind: through evidence-based, prevention-focused approaches.”American Academy of Pediatrics

“Takes historic and long overdue steps to direct federal child welfare dollars to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families […] takes important steps to ensure children who need foster care will be placed in the least-restrictive most family-like setting appropriate to their needs, and gives special attention to children whose emotional or other special needs require residential treatment.”Children’s Defense Fund

“Promotes a number of policy priorities our state and local members have identified as key to improving child and family well-being … We appreciate your bipartisan, bicameral effort to address child welfare reform, and specifically, the longstanding policy priority to expand Title IV-E for prevention so that children and parents/caregivers have access to services and interventions that maintain family stability.”American Public Human Services Association and National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators

“Expand[s] the availability of such services and reflects the reality that many families, including adoptive families, need targeted, effective services to meet their children’s needs and prevent foster care entry.”North American Council on Adoptable Children

“Offers the important possibility of allowing funds to provide vital mental health, substance use and in-home services that could help children stay with their own families.”Child Welfare League of America

Offer[s] relatives the support they need to keep children out of foster care and help them thrive.”Generations United

In advance of today’s markup of the Family First Prevention Services Act, the Ways and Means Committee continues to receive support from organizations, including:

  • AAJ Research & Evaluation (Florida)
  • Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
  • Academic Pediatric Association
  • Adolescent and Family Growth Center, Inc. (Virginia)
  • Adopt America Network
  • Adoption Exchange Association
  • Adoptions Together (District of Columbia)
  • Adoptions Together (Maryland)
  • Adoptions Together (Virginia)
  • Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine Inc. (Maine)
  • Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Inc and the Kinship Program (Maine)
  • Advocates for Children and Youth (Maryland)
  • Advocates for Children of New Jersey
  • AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families
  • Alaska Children’s Trust (Alaska)
  • All Our Kin, Inc. (Connecticut)
  • Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
  • American Academy of Nursing
  • American Academy of Pediatrics – California Chapter 1 (California)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics – California Chapter 2 (California)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics – California Chapter 3 (California)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Alabama)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Alaska)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Arizona)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Arkansas)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (California)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Colorado)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Connecticut)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Delaware)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (District of Columbia)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Florida)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Georgia)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Hawaii)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Idaho)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Illinois)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Indiana)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Iowa)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Kansas)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Kentucky)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Louisiana)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Maine)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Maryland)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Massachusetts)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Michigan)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Minnesota)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Mississippi)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Missouri)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Montana)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Nebraska)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Nevada)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (New Jersey)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (North Dakota)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Oklahoma)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Pennsylvania)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Puerto Rico)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Rhode Island)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (South Carolina)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (South Dakota)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Tennessee)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Texas)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Utah)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Virginia)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Washington)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (West Virginia)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Wisconsin)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (Wyoming)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics District II (New York)
  • American Art Therapy Association
  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • American Association of Addiction Medicine
  • American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • American Dance Therapy Association
  • American Orthopsychiatric Association
  • American Pediatric Association
  • American Pediatric Society
  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)
  • Angel Eyes Over Texas (Texas)
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • ARC
  • Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents (Arizona)
  • Arizona Council of Human Services Providers (Arizona)
  • Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (Arizona)
  • Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors (Arizona)
  • Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (Arizona)
  • Arizona Partnership for Children, LLP (Arizona)
  • Arizona’s Children Association (Arizona)
  • Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (Arkansas)
  • Arkansas Association for Infant Mental Health (Arkansas)
  • Arrow Child and Family Ministries
  • Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare
  • Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
  • Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
  • Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
  • Association of State and Tribal Home Visiting Initiatives
  • Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
  • Baby’s Bounty (Maryland)
  • Baby’s Bounty (Nevada)
  • Beyond Adoptions, Inc.
  • Brazelton Touchpoints Project, Inc.
  • Bridges International
  • Buckner International (Texas)
  • California Association of Alcohol and Drug Programs Executives (California)
  • Camelot Care Centers, Inc. (Illinois)
  • Casa de los Ninos (Arizona)
  • CASA of Jackson and Josephine Counties (Oregon)
  • CASA of Linn County (Oregon)
  • CASA Youth Advocates (Pennsylvania)
  • Catawba Valley Healthy Families (North Carolina)
  • Catholic Charities USA
  • Catholic Health Association of the United States
  • Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E)
  • Center for Children’s Justice (Pennsylvania)
  • Center for Native American Youth
  • Center for Public Priorities (Texas)
  • Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP)
  • Center Point, Inc. (California)
  • Child and Family Policy Center (Iowa)
  • Child and Family Resources Inc. (Arizona)
  • Child and Family Services of New Hampshire (New Hampshire)
  • Child Care Aware of America
  • Child Crisis Arizona (Arizona)
  • Child First, Inc.
  • Child Welfare League of America
  • Children & Families First (Delaware)
  • Children and Family Futures
  • Children Awaiting Parents (New York)
  • Children First for Oregon
  • Children, Inc. (Kentucky)
  • Children’s Action Alliance (Arizona)
  • Children’s Advocacy Alliance (Nevada)
  • Children’s Advocacy Institute
  • Children’s Defense Fund – Southern Regional Office (Mississippi)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (California)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (Minnesota)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (New York)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (Ohio)
  • Children’s Defense Fund (Texas)
  • Children’s Home + Aid (Illinois)
  • Children’s Home Society of America
  • Children’s Home Society of Minnesota (Minnesota)
  • Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (North Carolina)
  • Children’s Home Society of Washington (Washington)
  • Children’s Hope Alliance (North Carolina)
  • Children’s Hospital Association
  • Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
  • Children’s Leadership Council
  • Children’s Rights
  • Children’s Rights Fund (Maryland)
  • Children’s Service Society of Utah (Utah)
  • Children’s Trust Fund or Oregon/Prevent Child Abuse Oregon
  • Children’s Trust of South Carolina (South Carolina)
  • Care C.A.N. (Circle of Assistance Network)
  • Citizen Review Board – Oregon’s Foster Care Review Board (Oregon)
  • Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Inc. (New York)
  • CLDA Diaper Bank (Pennsylvania)
  • Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (California)
  • Coalition on Human Needs
  • Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth (Arizona)
  • Coconino County Education Service Agency (Arizona)
  • Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health (Colorado)
  • Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families (Colorado)
  • Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (Colorado)
  • Colorado Youth Matter (Colorado)
  • Comfort Consults, LLC
  • Community Care (Maine)
  • Community Partners of Montgomery County (Texas)
  • Conference of Chief Justices
  • Conference of State Court Administrators
  • Connecticut Voices for Children
  • Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
  • Covenant House International
  • Crawford County CASA (Pennsylvania)
  • Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (North Dakota)
  • Disability Rights Mississippi (Mississippi)
  • Disability Rights Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
  • Easterseals
  • Eating Disorders Coalition
  • ECPAT-USA
  • Emmanuel Family Services, LLC (Virginia)
  • EPIC `Ohana (Hawaii)
  • Esparza Head Start
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Every Child Matters
  • Exchange Family Center (North Carolina)
  • Extended Child Care Coalition of Sonoma County (California)
  • Fair Trade LA (California)
  • Families and Children Together (Maine)
  • Families as Allies (Mississippi)
  • Families on the Move, Inc. (Michigan)
  • Family & Children’s Place (Kentucky)
  • Family Focused Treatment Association
  • Family Focused Treatment Association (Alabama)
  • Family Focused Treatment Association (Texas)
  • Family Involvement Center (Arizona)
  • Family Policy Alliance
  • Family Preservation Community Services (California)
  • Family Preservation Community Services (North Carolina)
  • Family Preservation Community Services (South Carolina)
  • Family Service Association
  • Family Service Head Start
  • Family Services of Western Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
  • Family Ties of Westchester (New York)
  • Family Voices
  • FIRST (North Carolina)
  • First Five Years Fund
  • First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC)
  • Florida’s Children First (Florida)
  • Focus on the Family
  • Fortified City Group (Texas)
  • Foster Adopt Connect
  • Foster Adopt Connect (Missouri and Kansas)
  • Foster Care Alumni of America
  • Foster Club
  • Foster Family-based Treatment Association (FFTA)
  • Fostering Hopes & Futures (Michigan)
  • Friends of Wednesday’s Child (Texas)
  • Futures Without Violence
  • Generations United
  • Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness (Georgia)
  • Gift of Hope, Grandparents and Others Raising America’s Children (Illinois)
  • Gift of Hope, Grandparents and Others Raising America’s Children, Support Groups (Illinois)
  • Girls Inc. of Alameda County, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of Long Island (New York)
  • Girls Inc. of New York City (New York)
  • Girls Inc. of Orange County, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region (New York)
  • Girls Inc. of the Island City in the city of Alameda, CA (California)
  • Girls Inc. of Westchester (New York)
  • Girls, Inc.
  • Governor Gary R. Herbert – State of Utah
  • Graham Windham (New York)
  • Grandfamilies PTSA, Inc. (Florida)
  • GROW in Illinois (Illinois)
  • HALOS (South Carolina)
  • Harlem Dowling – West Side Center for Children and Family Services (New York)
  • Healthy Families America
  • Healthy Teen Network
  • Heartland Family Resource Center
  • Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY USA)
  • Hope Family Resource (Mississippi)
  • HopeSparks (Tacoma, WA) (Washington)
  • Hosea Helps (Georgia)
  • Human Resource Training, Inc. (Arizona)
  • Human Rights Project for Girls (Rights4Girls)
  • Illinois Collaboration on Youth (Illinois)
  • Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (Illinois)
  • Indiana Connected by 25 (Indiana)
  • Institute for Health and Recovery, Inc. (Massachusetts)
  • Integrative Counseling Solutions (Iowa)
  • Interfaith Older Adult Programs (Wisconsin)
  • Island Community Center (Maine)
  • Jewish Family & Children’s Service (Arizona)
  • Journey to Dream (Texas)
  • Juvenile Law Center (JLC)
  • Juvenile Law Center (Pennsylvania)
  • Kansas Appleseed (Kansas)
  • Kentucky Youth Advocates (Kentucky)
  • Kids Belong (Michigan)
  • Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky (Kentucky)
  • KMB Enterprises
  • KVC West Virginia (West Virginia)
  • La Familia, Inc. (New Mexico)
  • League of Women Voters of Dallas (Texas)
  • Lone Star CASA (Texas)
  • Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
  • org (Louisiana)
  • Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (Illinois)
  • Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri (Missouri)
  • Lutheran Family Services of Virginia (Virginia)
  • Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (Colorado)
  • Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (New Mexico)
  • Lutheran Services Florida (Florida)
  • Lutheran Services in America
  • Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jerseys (New Jersey)
  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Minnesota)
  • Lutheran Social Services of Indiana (Indiana)
  • Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (Nevada)
  • Lutheran Social Services of New York (New York)
  • Main Street Family Services (Minnesota)
  • Many Lights Foundation (Washington)
  • Maple Star Colorado (Colorado)
  • Maryland Family Network (Maryland)
  • Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (Massachusetts)
  • Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (Massachusetts)
  • Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (Michigan)
  • Michigan League for Public Policy (Michigan)
  • Michigan’s Children (Michigan)
  • Mississippi Center for Justice (Mississippi)
  • Mississippi Families for Kids (Mississippi)
  • Mississippi Human Services Coalition (Mississippi)
  • Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (Mississippi)
  • Model Citizen
  • Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (Maryland)
  • NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals
  • National Adoption Center
  • National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.
  • National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas (Texas)
  • National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health (TRILPE)
  • National Association for Children of Alcoholics
  • National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health (NACBH)
  • National Association of Black Social Workers
  • National Association of Counsel for Children
  • National Association of Drug Court Professionals
  • National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
  • National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA)
  • National Association of Social Workers
  • National Association of Social Workers (Arizona)
  • National Association of Social Workers (North Carolina)
  • National Association of Social Workers (Texas)
  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD)
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
  • National Center for Youth Law
  • National Center on Adoption and Permanency
  • National Center on Child Welfare and Housing
  • National Center on Shared Leadership
  • National Child Abuse Coalition
  • National Children’s Alliance
  • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
  • National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
  • National Family Preservation Network
  • National Foster Parent Association
  • National Foster Youth Institute
  • National Hispanic Medical Association
  • National Indian Child Welfare Association
  • National Indian Health Board
  • National Kinship Alliance for Children
  • National Latino Children’s Institute
  • National Network for Youth
  • National Register of Health Service Psychologists
  • National Respite Coalition
  • Nebraska Appleseed (Nebraska)
  • Nebraska Children’s Home Society (Nebraska)
  • New Hampshire Children’s Trust, Inc. (New Hampshire)
  • New Hampshire Pediatric Society (New Hampshire)
  • New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (New Jersey)
  • New Mexico Child Advocacy Networks (New Mexico)
  • New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership (New Mexico)
  • New Mexico Pediatric Society (New Mexico)
  • New Mexico Voices for Children (New Mexico)
  • New York Coalition for Child Welfare Finance Reform
  • New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (New York)
  • New York State American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter 2         (New York)
  • New York State American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter 3         (New York)
  • Nexus Recovery Center Inc.
  • North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
  • North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services
  • North Carolina Pediatric Society (North Carolina)
  • North Georgia Community Action, Inc. (Georgia)
  • North Texas Alliance to Reduce Pregnancy in Teens (NTARUPT)
  • Nurse Family Partnership (at Texas Children’s Health Plan) (Texas)
  • Nurse-Family Partnership
  • OHSU (Oregon)
  • Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (Oklahoma)
  • One Voice Texas (Texas)
  • Open Arms (Kentucky)
  • Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange (OARE) (Oregon)
  • Oregon Pediatric Society (Oregon)
  • Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) (Oregon)
  • Parent-Child Home Program
  • Parenting Way, Inc. (Iowa)
  • Parents Anonymous Inc.
  • Parents Anonymous of New Jersey, Inc. (New Jersey)
  • Parents Anonymous of Ohio (Ohio)
  • Parents as Teachers
  • Partners for Our Children (Washington)
  • Passages Alternative Living Programs, Inc. (Illinois)
  • PB&J Family Services, Inc. (New Mexico)
  • Peace Educators Allied for Children Everywhere (P.E.A.C.E.)
  • Pediatric Policy Council
  • Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (Pennsylvania)
  • Phoenix Institute (Indiana)
  • Polaris
  • Pressley Ridge
  • Prevent Child Abuse (Arizona)
  • Prevent Child Abuse (Indiana)
  • Prevent Child Abuse (New Jersey)
  • Prevent Child Abuse (Virginia)
  • Prevent Child Abuse America
  • Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition (Arizona)
  • RaiseAChild
  • Ray E. Helfer Society
  • Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP) (West Virginia)
  • Results For America
  • RESULTS Tarrant County (Texas)
  • Rights4Girls
  • RISE Services, Inc. (Arizona)
  • RISE Services, Inc. (Oregon)
  • RISE Services, Inc. (Utah)
  • Russell Child Development Center, Inc. (Kansas)
  • SafeCare
  • Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
  • Save the Children
  • Save the Children Action Network
  • School Social Workers Association of America (SSWAA)
  • Seraaj Family Homes (Alabama)
  • Society for Pediatric Research
  • South of Market Child Care, Inc. (California)
  • Southern Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors/Tucson (Arizona)
  • Southwest Human Development, Inc. (Arizona)
  • John’s Lutheran Church (Georgia)
  • Jude’s Ranch for Children (Nevada)
  • Louis Area Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (Missouri)
  • Stephenson Consultation (North Carolina)
  • Strengthening Families All Across America
  • Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. (California)
  • Texans Care for Children (Texas)
  • Texas Pediatric Society (Texas)
  • Texas Foster a Family Association (Texas)
  • TexProtects (Texas)
  • The Adoption Exchange, Inc.
  • The Arc
  • The Art of Practicing Institute (New York)
  • The Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc.
  • The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
  • The Children’s Aid Society (New York)
  • The Children’s Guild (District of Columbia)
  • The Children’s Guild (Maryland)
  • The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (New Jersey)
  • The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (serves Eastern PA) (Pennsylvania)
  • The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
  • The Children’s Partnership
  • The Children’s Partnership (California)
  • The Children’s Shelter (San Antonio, Texas)
  • The Children’s Village (New York)
  • The Dalton Daley Group
  • The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
  • The Donaldson Adoption Institute, Inc.
  • The Family Defense Center (Illinois)
  • The Family Resource Center (New Hampshire)
  • The Family Tree (Maryland)
  • The Hoglund Foundation
  • The Kempe Foundation
  • The Mockingbird Society
  • The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health
  • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
  • The National Crittenton Foundation (TNCF)
  • The Ounce of Prevention Fund
  • The Ounce of Prevention Fund (Illinois)
  • The RISE Institute
  • The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
  • The Village Family Service (California)
  • Think of Us
  • Together Georgia Provider Alliance, Inc. (Georgia)
  • Treatment Communities of America
  • Treehouse (Washington)
  • Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development (Arizona)
  • UMOM New Day Centers (Arizona)
  • United Advocates for Children and Families (California)
  • United Way of Hardin County, Inc. (Ohio)
  • United Way Worldwide
  • Universal Family Connection, Inc. (Illinois)
  • University of California Davis Guardian Professions Program (California)
  • Upbring
  • Upshur County Family Resource Network (West Virginia)
  • Vermont Kin as Parents (Vermont)
  • Voice for Adoption
  • Voices for Alabama’s Children (Alabama)
  • Voices for Children in Nebraska (Nebraska)
  • Voices for Children of San Antonio (Texas)
  • Voices for Georgia’s Children (Georgia)
  • Voices for Ohio’s Children (Ohio)
  • Voices for Utah Children (Utah)
  • Voices for Vermont’s Children (Vermont)
  • Voices for Virginia’s Children (Virginia)
  • West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition (Arizona)
  • WIN Family Services (Maryland)
  • Wyoming Kinship Advocacy (Wyoming)
  • YMCA of San Diego County, Kinship Support Program
  • YMCA of the USA
  • Youth Law Center
  • Youth Law Center (California)
  • Youth Outreach Services, Inc. (Illinois)
  • Youth Villages
  • Youth Villages (Alabama)
  • Youth Villages (Georgia)
  • Youth Villages (Indiana)
  • Youth Villages (Massachusetts)
  • Youth Villages (Mississippi)
  • Youth Villages (New Hampshire)
  • Youth Villages (North Carolina)
  • Youth Villages (Oklahoma)
  • Youth Villages (Oregon)
  • Youth Villages (Tennessee)
  • Zepeda Learning and Leadership
  • Zero to Three
  • Zero to Three (New York)