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Evident Change Offers Family First Expertise

December 9, 2020 | Evident Change

Cynthia Burnson

Evident Change senior researcher, Cynthia Burnson, PhD, has an article in the December issue of Children and Youth Services Review. The article describes strategies and recommendations regarding technical reviews of programs for Family First Prevention Services Act funding. Burnson’s co-authors are Antonio R. Garcia, PhD, associate professor of social work, University of Kentucky College of Social Work, and faculty associate, Center on Trauma and Children, UK College of Medicine; Peter J. Pecora, PhD, managing director of research services for Casey Family Programs and professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work; Audrey H. Schnell, PhD, statistical consultant and instructor; Elizabeth Harris, PhD, social scientist; and Evident Change editor Allison Finseth. 

Passed in 2018, Family First opened federal funding streams for child welfare agencies and programs that work to keep children safe and out of foster care. For an organization to use those funds, they must submit a prevention services plan that uses evidence-based programs as designated by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. If the desired program has not been reviewed by the Clearinghouse, jurisdictions can commission an independent technical review to arrive at a provisional evidence rating. Evident Change is available to serve as an independent reviewer, and has successfully done so for the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services. Learn more about how Evident Change can help agencies with their Family First efforts here.