Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) Program

A vital initiative designed to strengthen families and keep children safely at home.

Under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), this program allows our county to offer critical support services before a child enters foster care. By focusing on prevention, we aim to reduce the need for out-of-home placements and help families thrive in their own communities.

What FFPS Offers:

Eligible children, youth, and families can access evidence-based services in three key areas:

• Mental Health Services
  Support for emotional and behavioral well-being, including counseling and therapeutic services.
• Substance Use Treatment
  Access to treatment and recovery programs for parents or caregivers facing challenges with substance use.
• In-Home Parenting Support
  Programs that help strengthen parenting skills, build healthy relationships, and create safe, nurturing home environments.

Who Can Benefit:

This program is designed to support:

• Families at risk of entering the child welfare system
• Youth at risk of placement in foster care
• Pregnant or parenting foster youth

Our Goal:

The goal of FFPS is to keep children safe, supported, and connected to their families whenever possible. By providing early, targeted services, we are working to prevent family separation and promote long-term stability and well-being.

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a landmark federal law passed in 2018 that transforms the way child welfare systems support children and families. The focus of FFPSA is prevention—helping families get the support they need before a crisis happens, so children can remain safely at home whenever possible.

Key Principles of FFPSA:

• Keeping Families Together
  The act shifts child welfare toward prevention by allowing federal funding to be used for services that help keep children safely with their families.
• Expanding Access to Services
  FFPSA supports mental health care, substance use treatment, and in-home parenting programs that are proven to help stabilize families and reduce the need for foster care.
• Improving Foster Care Options
  For children who do need temporary care, FFPSA ensures that foster placements are in the least restrictive, most family-like settings possible, and that residential programs meet higher standards of care.

Why It Matters:

Before FFPSA, most federal funding could only be used after a child entered foster care. Now, states and counties like San Bernardino can invest in upstream solutions—helping families earlier and reducing the trauma that can come from family separation.

By implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, San Bernardino County is taking meaningful steps to build stronger families, protect children, and create lasting change in our community.