HHS Seeks Comment on FFPSA Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), enacted in 2018, authorized new title IV-E funding for prevention services for qualifying families and children.

The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, developed in accordance with FFPSA, was established by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct an independent systematic review of research on prevention services and programs intended to provide Title IV-E reimbursable support.

The Clearinghouse rates programs and services as well-supported, supported, promising, and does not currently meet criteria. Relevant practices include mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parent skill-based programs, as well as kinship navigator services.

HHS is now seeking comments by August 16, 2021 on the Clearinghouse's Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0, which outlines the Clearinghouse's operations.

The 60-page document contains provisions on:

• Identifying programs for review

• Eligibility and screening prioritization

• Program and service ratings

• And more

You can submit written questions, comments, and supplementary documents about anything in the Handbook by email to preventionservices@abtassoc.com with “Title IV-E PSC FRN comment” in the subject line. To ensure that your comments have maximum effect, please identify clearly the section of the Handbook that your comment addresses.