Family First Prevention Services Act (2018): Federal Money for Prevention Services and Limits on Group Care

This bill is law. It was approved February 9, 2018, as Public Law 115-123 Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). Its prevention-services changes took effect October 1, 2018 Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018), and its group-care limits took effect October 1, 2019 Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

The short answer

The Family First Prevention Services Act is Title VII of Division E of a larger law, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018) Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 1892 (115th Congress). It lets states use federal foster care money (Title IV-E) for up to 12 months of mental health, substance abuse, and in-home parenting services, so a child can stay safely at home or with relatives Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). It also limits federal payment for most group care placements after the first two weeks Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

Congress.gov lists the bill's final action as "Became Public Law No: 115-123" Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 1892 (115th Congress). H.R. 1892 was introduced with an official title about flying the flag at half-staff Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 1892 (115th Congress). The version that became law carries the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 under the same official title Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 1892 (115th Congress) Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

What it changes

Prevention services paid by Title IV-E. The stated purpose is to let states use federal funds to support families and "prevent foster care placements" Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). At a state's option, Title IV-E can pay for services for children who are candidates for foster care, or who are pregnant or parenting foster youth, and for their parents or kin caregivers Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). A covered candidate is a child who can remain safely at home or with kin if the family gets the services Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The services are:

• mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment by a qualified clinician, for up to 12 months Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018); and
• in-home parent skill-based programs, including parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling, for up to 12 months Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

The state must keep a written prevention plan for the child Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The plan names a strategy so the child can stay safely at home, live with a kin caregiver until it is safe to reunify, or live permanently with a kin caregiver Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). Services must be trauma-informed Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). Only services that follow "promising, supported, or well-supported" practices qualify for federal matching money Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

Kinship and reunification. Title IV-E pays 50 percent of state spending on qualifying kinship navigator programs Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). Family reunification services may continue for 15 months after a child returns home Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

Limits on group care. Starting with the third week of a child's placement in a child-care institution, no federal foster care payment is made unless the placement is one of the listed settings Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The list includes a qualified residential treatment program Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018) and a setting that specializes in prenatal, post-partum, or parenting support for youth Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). Within 30 days of a placement in a qualified residential treatment program, a qualified individual must assess the child Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The assessment decides whether the child's needs can be met with family members or in a foster family home Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The state must also assemble a family and permanency team for the child Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

When it took effect. The prevention changes took effect October 1, 2018, with some exceptions Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018). The group-care limits took effect October 1, 2019 Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018), and a state could ask to delay that by up to 2 years Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).

How it relates to Texas

Texas law names DFPS as the state agency that cooperates with the federal government on programs under Parts B and E of Title IV of the Social Security Act Tex. Hum. Res. Code §§40.002, 40.080. Texas statutes also refer to the Family First Act by name:

• Family preservation services. In Texas law, a "family preservation service" includes services subject to the Family First Prevention Services Act and services approved under the Title IV-E state plan Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416. Texas defines a child who is a candidate for foster care as one at imminent risk of removal into DFPS conservatorship whom a court has allowed to stay safely at home or in a kinship placement with these services Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416.
• Paying for court-ordered services. If a Texas court order for these services includes services not covered by the Family First Act, the order must say how they will be paid for and which local jurisdiction will pay Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416.
• Placement settings. DFPS must develop a strategic plan for placing children in settings eligible for federal funds under the Family First Act Tex. Hum. Res. Code §§40.002, 40.080.

The Texas definitions were added in 2021 by HB 3041 Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416 and amended in 2025 by SB 1398 Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416. See Texas SB 1398 (2025): Family Preservation, Placement Limits and Community-Based Care and Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know.

Which laws it affects

• Sections 471, 472, 474, and 475A of the Social Security Act (Title IV-E), and parts of Title IV-B Public Law 115-123, Division E, Title VII, 132 Stat. 64 (2018).
• In Texas, Family Code §§262.401 and 262.416 and Human Resources Code §§40.002 and 40.080 Tex. Fam. Code §§262.401, 262.416 Tex. Hum. Res. Code §§40.002, 40.080.

Related

• Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980: Where the Federal "Reasonable Efforts" Rule Began
• Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA): Child Safety First, and the 15-of-22-Months Rule
• Supporting America's Children and Families Act (2025): Title IV-B Child Welfare Programs Renewed Through 2029
• Texas SB 1398 (2025): Family Preservation, Placement Limits and Community-Based Care
• Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know
• Court-Ordered Services in Texas CPS Cases (Family Code §264.203)