The Family First Prevention Services Act aims to keep children safe, strengthen families and reduce the need for foster care whenever it is safe to do so.
Family First's strategic priority is to advance the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based, trauma informed services that appropriately and effectively improve child safety, ensure permanency, and promote child and family well-being. While many of the services available in our community have positive outcomes, evidence-based programs are distinctly different in that they are based on research studies.
Evidence-based programs have demonstrated positive outcomes, and they provide a framework and structure for service providers in the delivery of their service. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has developed a federal clearinghouse that ranks evidence-based programs. Additional information about the clearinghouse and identified programs can be found on the clearinghouse website.
The Virginia Department of Social Services is working to implement Family First in Virginia and is investing in the community based provider network to implement and grow three programs that have been rated as well-supported in the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
As these programs come on board in our community, we will be adding program descriptions, resources, referral forms and more to this page to help case managers and members in the community learn more about each program and understand which treatment and intervention can best serve the children, youth and families being served.