Presenter: Judge (ret.) Leonard Edwards
This program will address a number of issues that are frequently overlooked by attorneys, judges and other stakeholders. More specifically, participants will look at the reasonable efforts requirement through the lens of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018, which aims to prevent children from entering foster care by allowing federal reimbursement for mental health services, substance use treatment, and in-home parenting skill training. The Act also seeks to improve the well-being of children already in foster by incentivizing states to reduce placement of children in congregate care. Participants will examine a number of topics, including:
• Reasonable efforts related to keeping children/youth at home related to intake
• The relative preference for placement
• Reasonable efforts and substance abuse
• Amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
• Substance exposed infants and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
This training will be funded in large part through the Prevention and Family Recovery (PFR) grant through Children and Families Futures (CFF).