Family First Prevention Services Act

Signed into law in 2018, Family First includes long-overdue historic reforms to help keep children safely with their families and avoid the traumatic experience of entering foster care. In passing the law, Congress recognized that too many children are unnecessarily separated from parents who could provide safe and loving care if given access to needed mental health services, substance abuse treatment or improved parenting skills. But this only really works if the client in crisis is willing and wants to get the help or support necessary to avoid the use of foster care.

This is the niche that MI was developed to address. The goal is to explore and overcome what keeps people from cutting out negative or harmful behaviors, guiding rather than directing change. In the context of Family First, this fits most with people suffering from an addiction to or troubling use of drugs and alcohol.

Motivational Interviewing is a "well-supported" program under Family First and is eligible for federal funding.