The implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) redesigns the child welfare system to support prevention of out-of-home placement. This systemic change requires the child welfare system to realign service delivery to insure at-risk children and families are provided the best opportunities to remain intact. 

As the system shift will continue, there are ongoing training needs for the provider community to gain understanding of alignment of practice change. 

Training Opportunities

  • Danger vs. Risk: As the Department of Human Services engages in the philosophical shift to child welfare, the relationship of identifying the need for out-of-home placement will begin to utilize a structure to assess Danger vs. Risk to make determinations for child safety. Learn more about this philosophical shift to align with goals to keep children safe and families together.
  • SafeCare: An Overview for Iowa, Session #1: Watch this high-level Nuts and bolts SafeCare Video. This will help viewers learn the language, so anyone involved with the family receiving SafeCare can use the cohesive language and understand the modules of SafeCare.
  • SafeCare: An Overview for Iowa, Session #2: Watch Part #2 of the Nuts and Bolts of SafeCare. The information will provide common language throughout the system and understand the modules for SafeCare.
  • Family Centered Services & Implement Family First Presentation by Janee Harvey, Division Administrator, Iowa DHSWatch Janee Harvey, Division Administrator of the Division of Adult, Children and Family Services at the Iowa Department of Human Services provide a nuts and bolts presentation on Family Centered Services (FCS) and Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) as they relate to the implementation of Family First in Iowa.
  • Family First, Family Centered & QRTP Fundamentals, Iowa DHS Training:  Watch this video and learn about the fundamentals of Family First and the Family Centered and Qualified Residential Treatment Program Contracts.  (Revised for QRTP & CWES Contracted Staff)
  • The Future of Family Centered Services:  Watch this video created by Boys Town of Iowa and the Family Access Center to learn about implementation and the Future of Family Centered Services: 
  • The Iowa Department of Human Services has chosen Solution-Based Casework as a foundation for Family First Implementation.   The Developer, Dana Christensen, created a SBC E-Learning Course: An Overview of the 4 Milestones of Solution Based Casework with a short quiz.  He agreed to make it available to foster group care and shelter staff as a tool to assist in creating common language around this service delivery implementation of Family First.  The Department of Human Services highly recommends residential staff (foster group care & shelter) take this 60-minute e-learning module. 

    • The link to the training is individualized, so if you are interested in having your staff participate please send Kristie Oliver via email ([email protected]) the staff's Name, title, and email.  Kristie will send that information to the National Operations manager and the person will receive an email with a individualized link to the training.