Federal Laws

The Family First Prevention and Services A (Family First) became federal law on February 9, 2018, as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.  Family First is a landmark child welfare law that aligns with the principle that children do best in families. Read more

On September 29th 2014, President Obama signed the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980) into law.  The bill  focuses on helping states identify, track and develop services for children who are believed to be in danger of being trafficked; improving the Adoption Incentives program; extending the Family Connections Grant and improving the process of getting international child support by allowing tribal governments and authorized foreign agencies to access the Federal Parent Locator Service.  Read more

In October 2008, The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) unanimously became federal law. Among the law's many provisions, it helps connect foster children with their relatives and promotes permanent families through guardianship. Read more