2019 NLADA Annual Conference-Innovative Justice

When CPS arrives at a family’s doorstep, its legal aid attorney or public defender may be the first line of support. How might practitioners help clients navigate this often scary and daunting process? To provide effective advice and assistance, practitioners must be familiar with the recently passed Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and its implications for parents, kinship caregivers, and youth. The presenters will introduce the FFPSA legal framework, with particular attention to new incentives for child protection agencies to prioritize research-based prevention strategies and family integrity. Attendees will learn practice resources for integrated legal advocacy, including a Legal Guide to FFPSA. The workshop will also review FFPSA elements relevant to older youth experiencing child welfare systems – including restrictions around use of congregate care. This discussion will be particularly applicable to advocates interested in an aligned effort to keep court-involved youth living with family and out of harmful placements.