DCYF Submits Family First Prevention Plan to the Children’s Bureau

Olympia – The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) submitted its plan to the federal Children’s Bureau today to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFSPSA). Washington is one of a small handful of states to do so.

FFPSA, signed into law Feb. 9, 2018, creates a new federal matching program for services that help prevent children from entering foster care and creates a new set of requirements designed to improve the well-being of children already in the system. 

DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter says, “I’m excited that we’ll have a chance to invest upstream to keep kids out of foster care, instead of trying to rescue them after maltreatment has occurred.”

In building this plan, DCYF actively engaged with stakeholders, partners and tribes statewide. Community feedback and FFPSA webinar sessions are posted on the DCYF Prevention webpage.

Steve Grilli, DCYF’s Director of Child Welfare Programs says, “This is an opportunity to expand the choices and support we provide to children, youth and families. FFPSA is an integral part of a much larger effort to transform the way we serve our children and families and will complement other agency prevention efforts.”

DCYF will continue to partner closely with internal staff, tribes, community providers, constituents, external partners, stakeholders and different groups in a multi-year, multi-phased collaborative effort.

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