State Partnerships to Coordinate Home Visiting and Child Welfare

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) marked a shift in child welfare to the prevention of child maltreatment and preservation of families. The legislation enabled states to use time-limited Title IV-E funds for services that may prevent children's entry into foster care, including evidence-based home visiting.

This flexibility catalyzed partnerships between home visiting programs and local child welfare systems to offer education and resources that empower families. Such collaborations, whether stemming from FFPSA or other factors, build on the fields’ shared goals of reducing child maltreatment and promoting family health and well-being.

This brief highlights four state partnerships to coordinate home visiting and child welfare services:

• Illinois
• Michigan
• New York
• Ohio

The authors present each collaboration’s goals and purpose, coordination efforts, and more and a synthesis of their shared progress, challenges, and plans for additional work.