Prevention services ensure youth remain with their families when it can be safe to stay.
With adequate support, youth who enter foster care can often remain with their original families. FosterClub firmly believes in prevention as the key to safely keeping youth with their families.
Why it matters
Prevention services encompass mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and in-home parenting programs to prevent youth from entering foster care. FosterClub emphasizes the need for extended services like economic assistance, culturally inclusive support, and continued aid even after child welfare investigations conclude. True family success requires sustained support beyond initial interventions.
Quick Facts
- Prevention services mitigate maltreatment and its repercussions, such as depression, substance abuse, and developmental delays in youth.
- Strengthening families through prevention minimizes traumatic removals, leading to better long-term outcomes for youth.
- Prevention bolsters community economic growth by enhancing a child's prospects for a successful adult career.
- By decreasing legal costs and breaking cycles of abuse, prevention ensures a safer future for subsequent generations.
”As a new mother who was in foster care there was a fear that I would be at risk of having my baby enter foster care.
— Tamisha, a young person from foster care
Youth perspective about prevention
- Share Your Perspective: Prevention Strengthening Families and Averting Crises
- How does the Family First Act help youth in foster care?
- The Family First Act Celebrates 5 years! How did Council Members contribute?
- Webinar: Youth & Alumni Priorities on Preventing Unnecessary Removal of Children from their Families
- Prevention Services: What Could Have Been
How Our LEx Leaders work on this issue
Learn more about FosterClub's Lived Experience (LEx) Leadership approach >
Family First Prevention Services Act
FosterClub supported Lived Experience Leaders to advocate for this law that focussed on prevention. These LEx Leaders penned op-eds, endorsed the act through a "Sign-On Letter," and directly urged Congress on Capitol Hill to pass the legislation promptly.
National Policy Council Recommendations
The Council developed the recommendation set,"Preventing Unnecessary Removal of Children from their Families," outlining priorities developed by young people to educate chidl welfare leaders about how to support keeping families together.
”If many families who live in poverty were helped more they wouldn't be labeled neglectful and have their children taken from them, many caretakers are wonderful parents but just don't have the right tools, resources and supports in the community. If we were to advocate for families who live in poverty (they just need an extra push and resources) less youth and children would enter the foster care system.”
— Youth in/from Minnesota's foster care system
Blogs on Prevention
Health Care for Former Foster Youth: FREE Medicaid Until age 26!
Online MeetUps are Back!
"Beyond Placement: Fostering Lifelong Support and Belonging": Expert Insights from Lived Experience Leaders
Pledge Your Birthday to Kids in Foster Care!
"Improving Mental Health and Well-Being for Foster Youth & Alumni": Expert Insights from Lived Experience Leaders
