Safe Families for Children Florida Earns Family First Approval

Safe Families for Children (SFFC) Florida has been recognized by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as a qualified evidence-based program, making it eligible for potential Title IV-E reimbursement under the Family First Prevention Act (FFPSA). With this approval, SFFC Florida joins a select group of evidence-based prevention programs that can now be included in Florida’s IV-E plans, enabling the state to use federal funds to advance the mission of keeping children safe and families together.

“This designation affirms what we’ve long known—Safe Families for Children is a trusted and effective solution for keeping children safely with their families during times of crisis,” said Jewel Photopulos, State Director of Safe Families for Children Florida.

The FFPSA aims to reduce the number of children entering foster care by investing in preventative services for families at risk. FFPSA allows Florida to access federal funding to support evidence-based programs focused on mental health, substance abuse, and in-home parenting skills. This redirection of funds aims to keep families together by addressing the root causes of child welfare involvement. 

Under traditional Title IV-E requirements, child welfare dollars were only available once a child was removed from their home, sparking concern among child welfare providers. “The child welfare system is reactive, only responding after bad things happen. Why do we have to wait?” explained Dr. Anderson, Safe Families Founder & Executive Director. “Someone should change the way families are supported—before child welfare involvement.”

Answering this call for change, FFPSA, which was created as part of bipartisan federal legislation in 2018, expanded the use of these child welfare dollars to provide evidence-based prevention services to children and their families who are at imminent risk of entering foster care.

Over the past eight years, Safe Families for Children Florida has served more than 1,220 families across the state, providing support to over 3,500 children in times of crisis. This community-driven model focuses on creating supportive relationships—not separation—and it’s working: 98% of families who engage with Safe Families through its trusted social connection approach remain safely together. During a controlled trial for children on the edge of care, 78% of families who received SFFC care were deflected from foster care compared to the 47% for families receiving prevention service as usual.  These outcomes reflect the power of prevention, compassion, and local partnership in strengthening Florida’s families.