FAQs

Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Implementation in Washington State

The purpose of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) team is to implement Washington state's Prevention plan — to develop, deploy, and monitor the Plan implementing specific defined services and supports for Washington state’s children and families.

Guiding principles:

• A relentless focus on outcomes for children.
• A commitment to collaboration and transparency.
• A commitment to using data to inform and evaluate reforms, leveraging and aligning existing services with desired child outcomes.   
• A focus on supporting staff as they contribute to the agency’s goals and outcomes.

We partner with state and local agencies, tribes, and other organizations in communities across Washington with a focus on supporting children and families at their most vulnerable points, giving them the tools they need to succeed.

New prevention provisions offer opportunities for child welfare agencies to work with other public agencies, build upon service provisions in non-family settings and support development of strong partnerships between child welfare agencies, the courts and residential treatment centers. Partnerships with foster parents and kinship caregivers will also be critical to ensure community foster care is well supported and that caregivers have what they need to help children and youth thrive.

Implementation of Family First requires a fundamental shift for child welfare agencies, their practice, funding and service provision. This transition will take time.

Embracing a prevention mindset means staff, judges, attorneys, community-based providers, and contracted provider agencies have a common set of values about what is best for children and families. To do this well takes planning, education, resource alignment, and system re-balancing to ensure its intended impact meets the needs of children and families.

Family First is designed to align federal funding and policy with current research on what works best for children and their families.

Regular review of data and consistent and authentic engagement of youth, parents, and community and kinship caregivers remains a central part of our planning and implementation efforts. Assessment of implementation efforts and the impact of new provisions on children, families and our BIPOC communities (who are overrepresented and experience child welfare system disparities) continues to inform our approach and focus.

As with any effort, coordination of communication among federal, state, tribal, and local governments is necessary.

This includes strong communication between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its regional offices, state and tribal child welfare agencies, and local jurisdictions that have the most knowledge about the needs of children and families in their local communities. Clear and consistent communication means that our child welfare staff and FFPSA team can work out implementation challenges, share successes, and highlight additional policy and practice supports that are needed to implement Family First.

A purpose-built child welfare technology system creates better support for families and children, increases the quality of service for families and ultimately positively impacts child welfare staff’s ability to conduct daily tasks.

We will continue to scale up the current technology systems to meet federal requirements and leverage our ability to enact solutions to better support families for claiming FFPSA IV-E dollars.

Enacting strategies to safely reduce the number of children in foster care is a necessary priority of DCYF, and this priority can be seen in efforts to improve permanency for youth already in out-of-home care.

FFPSA and the expansion of secondary prevention is one important additional tool in reducing the numbers of children in out-of-home care. These tools offer a new and improved way to achieve better outcomes for children and families whether child welfare is involved or not. Being able to reimagine the pathways before they ever become involved is key. Building a strong workforce, a supportive network of community caregivers, kinship families, and an adequate array of services and supports can only help us transform the system as we know it. Read, Washington Reduces the Number of Children in Out-Of-Home Care by Nearly Half

1. Who is eligible to receive Title IV-E prevention services under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) in Washington?  
   
   Candidates for Title IV-E prevention services are children at imminent risk of removal from home but can remain safely at home, or with kin if they, their parents or kin caregivers are provided Title IV-E prevention services to prevent removal. A candidate for foster care is defined as a child who is at “imminent risk of entering foster care” and has been defined in more detail in Washington’s Title IV-E Five-Year Prevention Plan. To be considered a candidate, children must remain in the home and include the following:  
   • CPS Family Assessment Response 
   • CPS Investigation 
   • CPS Family Voluntary Services 
   • Family Reconciliation Services 
   • State Juvenile Rehabilitation discharge 
   • Children on Trail Return Home following placement 
   • Pregnant Women with substance use disorder
   • Children experiencing adoption displacement 
   • Pregnant or parenting Foster Youth 
   • Pregnant or parenting Juvenile Rehabilitation Youth 
   • Children with developmental disabilities and/or intensive mental health needs

2. Can a child receive Title IV-E placement prevention services in an out-of-home placement?  

   Only pregnant or parenting youth in foster care are eligible for Title IV-E placement prevention services. No other candidates for Title IV-E prevention services can be in an out-of-home placement. 

3. Will additional candidates be eligible for Title IV-E prevention services in the future?  

   DCYF continues to evaluate future candidates for eligibility and can update the current criteria through approval by the Children’s Bureau through either an updated five-year prevention plan or by an amendment process.

1. What services are on WA’s prevention plan? 

   Washington’s current approved prevention plan includes the following evidence-based and trauma-informed services: 

   • Functional Family Therapy
   • Motivational Interviewing 
   • Multi-Systemic Therapy
   • Nurse-Family Partnership
   • Parents as Teachers
   • Homebuilders
   • SafeCare
   • Child-Parent Psychotherapy

   Washington's new plan proposes adding these additional services:

   • Family Spirit
   • Incredible Years (School age & toddler)
   • Promoting First Relationships
   • Triple P
   • Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment

2. How did WA decide which services are in the prevention plan?

   Prevention services are selected based on a rating from the Title IV-E Clearinghouse. To claim Title IV-E reimbursement, a service must be categorized as promising, supported, or well-supported on the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse requires that services must be trauma-informed, evidence-based, and have a manual on how to administer the service.

   The service also provides one of the following:

   • Mental health prevention and treatment services provided by a qualified clinician
   • Substance use prevention and treatment services provided by a qualified clinician
   • In-home parent skill-based including parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling.

You and your family, along with the caseworker, will determine your specific needs and goals. Together you will create a prevention plan to address the identified goals and needs. Your family will then be referred for services such as:

• Counseling
• Parent education/support,
• Child care
• Substance abuse treatment
• Domestic violence resources
• Educational evaluations for children
• Mental health support
• Housing assistance
• Concrete goods

To request voluntary services, families may call the hotline and request assistance. Due to the voluntary nature of this program, a family can refer themselves if they are seeking prevention services and believe they can benefit from Family First Prevention Services.

*Please be aware the following phone numbers take you to the statewide intake line where concerns for child abuse and neglect can be reported. DCYF has one intake center where services can be requested, and concerns for abuse and neglect can also be reported.

If you know a family who could benefit from prevention services, please review the Family Voluntary Services brochure and talk to the family about how Family First may be able to assist them.

*Please be aware the following phone numbers take you to the statewide intake line where concerns for child abuse and neglect can be reported. DCYF has one intake center where services can be requested, and concerns for abuse and neglect can also be reported.

DCYF believes that children do best in a strong family and that families do best with support from their communities. Through Family First, DCYF is dedicated to increasing community support for families to build a stronger continuum of services. Collaborations between DCYF, Chapin Hall, and Community Partners are underway to keep children with their families safely.

The earlier we can offer prevention services and supports, the more likely we are to significantly reduce the number of children and youth in out-of-home care. Please review DCYF’s Strategic Priorities for 2021-2026 for more information.

Early Learning:

Find Child Care/Early Learning
Early Learning Navigator
Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)

Mental Health:

Behavioral Health Organizations
Health Care Authority – Mental Health Services

Substance Use:

Behavioral Health Organizations
Health Care Authority – Substance Use Services

Parent Education/Support:

Eat, Sleep, Console
Help Me Grow
Safe Families
Strengthening Families Washington
Department of Health Family Services
YWCA Domestic Violence Services
Department of Social and Health Domestic Violence Services

*DCYF partners with many local and statewide agencies across Washington. This list is not all-inclusive.

What is the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse?

The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse was established by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct an objective and transparent review of research on programs and services intended to provide support to children and families and prevent foster care placements.

1. What are culturally responsive services?

   Culture includes the shared social behavior and norms of a society. This can include shared knowledge, beliefs, laws, arts, customs, habits, priorities, expectations, and many other shared practices. Culturally responsive services would involve proactively engaging with people in ways that are appropriate within their cultural values, behaviors, and norms.

2. Will culturally responsive services be offered as part of FFPSA?

   Yes. As part of Washington’s prevention plan update, we are proposing to add Family Spirit which is a culturally responsive service.

   At this time, the Clearinghouse has reviewed and approved very few culturally responsive services. In the future, we hope this will change. However, Washington is committed to providing culturally responsive services, regardless of Title IV-E reimbursement, and has already added several across the state. 

1. What is Motivational Interviewing? 

   Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice (EBP) that has wide use and application across various settings including medical, behavioral health, education, and social work. MI provides a framework for child welfare staff to reach, engage and empower families in a collaborative, goal-oriented communication style. This person-centered approach addresses the common challenge of ambivalence to change. It has the potential to help families affirm the change necessary, overcome barriers and attain service plan goals more aligned with their individual needs. In turn, using MI strategies can help child welfare staff more effectively partner with families to create services plans that are more family driven and prevention oriented.

   Miller, W.R.  & Rollnick, S. (2013) Motivational Interviewing: Helping people to change (3rd Edition). Guilford Press.

2. How is Motivational Interviewing (MI) connected to FFPSA? 

   Motivational Interviewing (MI) is one of the approved prevention services in Washington’s prevention plan. MI is the only prevention service in Washington’s plan that caseworkers and community providers will be trained to offer. The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse rates MI as a well-supported practice.

3. What are the anticipated benefits of using MI in child welfare work?

   Motivational Interviewing under transforms how child welfare staff engage and partner with families through affirming and transforming service experiences. Benefits include:

   • Youth and families experience an increased participation and ownership in case planning; shared power and accountability in progress; increased confidence; and judgment-free communication about the natural hesitation to change.  
   • Widespread practice improvement, changing how practitioners engage and partner with families. 
   • Stronger partnerships with families may lead to more consistent engagement in preventive services and the achievement of family goals. 
   • Implementing MI broadly allows jurisdictions to offer EBP services and claim for more children under FFPSA  
   • Claiming for MI contributes to meeting the FFPSA requirement that 50% of reimbursable costs be for interventions rated “well-supported,” thus enabling more claiming on EBPs with lower evidentiary ratings. 

   Sources: Motivational Interviewing: A Guide to Family First Implementation, March 2022

4. As a community provider, how do I access motivational interviewing training? 

   DCYF is at the beginning phase of offering motivational interviewing to community providers. Currently, the training is available to Family Preservation Services (FPS) providers.

1. Where do I find Kinship Navigator services in my community? 

   Visit the Foster Parenting and Kinship Care webpage for more information on Kinship Navigator Programs in your area.  County specific services and resources can be accessed at Kinship Care Services | DSHS (wa.gov). 

2. Where can I get legal advice and assistance as a kinship caregiver?  

   LAARK is a statewide legal advice program that is housed at the King County Bar Association. The program provides free legal advice to kinship caregivers in Washington on matters related to the children in their care. Topics include minor guardianship, the child welfare system, education, housing, and public benefits.

   LAARK lawyers offer free legal advice and referrals to kinship caregivers over the phone. LAARK does not assist people who are not kinship caregivers. LAARK is open to Washington state kinship caregivers and caregivers living outside the state who have legal disputes in Washington.

   LAARK does not represent caregivers in court. There is no income restriction for LAARK.

   Apply online at LAARK’s website, or call the LAARK voicemail and leave a message at 206-267-7075. 

1. What is a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)?

   A QRTP is defined as a non-foster family home setting that has a trauma-informed treatment model to provide time-limited intervention and treatment services to children and youth with complex emotional, mental health and behavioral needs. 

2. What are the requirements for child welfare agencies?

   Public child welfare agencies must meet detailed assessment, case planning, documentation, judicial determinations and ongoing review and permanency hearing requirements for a child to be placed in and continue to receive federal Title IV-E funding for QRTP placement. QRTPs are a subset of licensed group care facilities; they do not wholly replace them.

   The QRTP requirements are necessary for all non-family homes where the state wants to claim Title IV-E.  

3. What roles do background checks serve for QRTPs? 

   The FFPSA requires all group care staff, including those not working directly with children, to complete a fingerprint-based background check before they can work in a group care facility. Effective Jul. 1, 2019, all group care staff must complete the fingerprint-based background check before they can work in a facility.

   Facilities must also be licensed and comply with criminal records and child abuse and neglect registry check requirements and must be accredited. The majority of the QRTP facilities have received their accreditation but there are still a couple of facilities that are actively working towards completing accreditation. DCYF has no intention of cancelling contracts for those that are actively seeking accreditation. Ultimately, all BRS facilities will need to meet FFPSA QRTP standards.   

   Email: cabc@dcyf.wa.gov 

4. When were QRTP services approved under Washington’s FFPSA Prevention Plan? 

   Child welfare practices and procedure policies were updated in Oct. 2019 to reflect the FFPSA requirements related to the QRTP. DCYF submitted their state plan updates to the federal Children’s Bureau in Dec. 2019 and received feedback from the Children’s Bureau in Spring 2020. They addressed their questions and made minor updates to the policy. On Oct. 8, 2020, the Children’s Bureau approved the updated policy, state plan and qualified individual waiver. You can view the approved policy and the waiver form.

5. Where can I find out more about QRTPs? 

   Covering the Basics of QRTP in Dependency Court (Webinar)

   Covering the Basics of QRTP in Dependency Court (PowerPoint)

   QRTP FAQs

   QRTP Process Flow Chart 

DCYF will partner with communities and interested parties through in-person Collaborative Forums to build a plan that helps children and families who are at risk of entering foster care receive enhanced support in areas such as in-home skill-based programs and services, mental health services, and substance use disorder prevention and treatment.

DCYF will also host virtual Town Hall meetings providing a high-level overview of FFPSA implementation efforts, sharing barriers to moving the work forward and planning to support meaningful engagement of those who share interest in the success of this work.

Listening session and workgroups will focus on the development of a pathway to offer services in community that do not require child welfare involvement. These workgroups will include staff from across DCYF, providers, tribes, external partners, and community members.

1. What is Title IV-E?

   Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides for federal reimbursement for a part of the costs of providing foster care to children. Title IV-E assistance is also available for adoption and legal guardianship support costs. FFPSA amended the Title IV-E program to authorize support for certain evidence-based services to prevent the need for children to enter foster care.

2. What needs to be in place for Title IV-E prevention services reimbursement under FFPSA?  

   To be able to claim for Title IV-E Prevention services, you must have:

   • Approval of prevention services by our federal partners as outlined in the Prevention plan 
   • Prevention candidacy eligibility determination documented by the Title IV-E agency 
   • A case plan (prevention plan) that includes child specific services developed and agreed upon by the family.

3. What are examples of administrative costs related to prevention services allowable under FFPSA?

   Child-specific administrative costs may be claimed from when a child meets eligibility criteria, is identified in a prevention plan until the end of the 12th month of an approved service being provided. If services are provided less than 12-months, allowable costs may be claimed to the end of the final month of service.

   • Allowable activities include: Development and maintenance of the child’s placement prevention plan, verification and documentation of eligibility, referral to services, preparation for and participation in judicial determinations, case management and supervision, and data collection and reporting. Additionally, the department may claim administrative costs related to proper and efficient administration of the state five-year prevention plan.
   • These administrative costs may be claimed beginning the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the state submits an approved plan: developing necessary processes and procedures, policy development, program management, and data collection and reporting.  

4. What are examples of administrative costs that are not allowable?  

   Time spent completing a child protection investigation is not allowable administrative cost. Additionally, physical examinations or mental health examinations through licensed providers cannot be claimed as administrative costs.  

5. What are examples of training costs related to prevention services allowable under FFPSA?  

   Agencies who are serving eligible children and families under the prevention plan may be eligible to claim training costs. Training costs such as how to identify and access appropriate services, how to provide selected services, and how to oversee and evaluate ongoing appropriateness of services, are considered allowable costs.

6. What if a service included in the Title IV-E Prevention Plan is already covered by Medicaid or other insurance? 

   Title IV-E is the payer of last resort meaning, if an individual that is covered under Medicaid is being provided a service that is eligible under both Medicaid and the Title IV-E prevention plan, Medicaid would pay for the service before any portion can be claimed under Title IV-E.