B. Background

A unique feature of the FP/FS legislation was that it allowed each state to spend up to $1 million of its first-year FP/FS allocation on planning efforts and needs assessment without the requirement that federal funds be matched by each state. Initially, FP/FS funds were provided to child welfare agencies with the requirement that both family preservation and community-based family support services be developed. Broadly defined, these services were to enhance family functioning, and help prevent child abuse/neglect and foster care placement. At the time, FP/FS funding was unique in that it was the only federal child welfare funding stream exclusively focused on prevention. In the legislation and subsequent regulations, program definitions were kept purposely broad to provide states maximum latitude to plan and implement programs.

Under ASFA, Congress reauthorized the FP/FS program as the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF). The reauthorization added two additional program categories to be funded—time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support. These program categories are consistent with the intent of ASFA to limit the time children spend in out-of-home placement and to expedite permanency. The FP/FS Implementation Study was extended in 1999 to permit an analysis of changes in implementation in response to these new program requirements.