Policy & Practice | Fall 2025

technology speaks

By Rebecca Liebschutz

Unlocking FFPSA Funds: A Prevention-First Approach

T he Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a key piece of legislation to push the transforma tion of child welfare by shifting from crisis response to prevention, keeping families safely together, and reducing reliance on foster care placements. By providing federal Title IV-E funds for evidence-based services like mental health treatment, substance abuse programs, and in-home parenting support, FFPSA offers states the resources to address family challenges early, before children might then need to enter care. However, the initial implementation of this Act nation wide paints a challenging picture. In FY 2023, only 26 states had accessed Title IV-E prevention funds, and 8 states with approved prevention plans reported no claims at all.¹ State and county leaders consis tently report the same frustration: they know prevention works, but navigating the administrative com plexity of meeting compliance, documentation, and federal reporting requirements required by FFPSA is overwhelming.

for reimbursement, for which tradi tional case management systems were never designed. These agencies face challenges that technology must now solve, including: n Fragmented Data Ecosystems: Service providers and state agencies use different systems to manage their work and service delivery, causing them to operate in silos and potentially delaying critical service referrals. One state leader shared how families waited weeks for mental health services simply because agency systems couldn’t exchange information. n Outcome Measurement Gaps: Without integrated tools to track outcomes tied to these specific

The Technology Gap in FFPSA Implementation A key part of FFPSA implemen tation is gathering specific data needed by the federal government

“Strong data systems are the backbone of continuous quality improvement and the key to sustaining better outcomes for families. Without integrated systems that track capacity, reach, fidelity, and outcomes, jurisdictions risk leaving federal reimbursement unclaimed—even when prevention services are delivered.” – CHAPIN HALL, 2025²

Illustration by Chirs Campbell

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