Safer, Happier, Healthier, Together

“Family First Home Visiting Funding: Challenges, Strategies, and Considerations for States” examines why many states have struggled to use Family First Prevention Services Act funding to expand voluntary home visiting programs, despite broad interest and federal approval pathways. The report identifies major barriers including fragmented funding systems, coordination challenges between child welfare and home visiting agencies, procurement limitations, and difficulty sustaining implementation costs. Drawing on interviews and survey responses from more than 30 states, it also highlights approaches states are using to improve cross-system collaboration, braid funding sources, and expand prevention services for families before child welfare involvement escalates.