FEDERAL ADVOCACY ALERT – Your advocacy on this important issue worked!
The Family First Transition Act successfully PASSED Congress and President Trump has signed into law.
Thanks to each of you on your outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of Florida’s children and families.
Florida advocates including our CHS President and CEO, Andry Sweet worked directly with U.S. Senate Finance and House Ways and Means, majority and minority leadership and staff to shape this legislation to ensure Florida and other states can continue to serve children and families with seamless support and safety.
The Family First Transition Act will enable Florida to transition to the Families First Preservation Services Act (FFPSA) that requires major state policy changes by:
- Providing insurance to Florida given our child welfare demonstration projects ended on October 1, 2019, guaranteeing we will not face a large financial shortfall as we transition to the new law; Retroactive to October 1, 2019 Florida is GUARANTEED no less than 90% of our waiver $120 million funding in year one and 75% in year two.
- Providing a $28.9 million grant in one-time funding to Florida to help implement Family First; and,
- Phasing in the Family First requirement that 50 percent of spending on foster care prevention be on programs meeting the highest level of evidence (“well supported”), allowing Florida to receive reimbursement for a broader range of evidence-based services in early years while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works to expand its list of qualifying programs.
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
A summary of the bill can be found HERE
Please contact your congressional member and thank them for their SUPPORT!
Social media examples:
Tag your US House member and BOTH US Senators and Thank them for their support in successfully passing S. 2777 or H.R. 4980 – Families First Transitions Act! #HelpFLKids #CHSAdvocacy
Example: Florida’s kids thank you for your support in passing S. 2777 @marorubio @SenRickScott and H.R 4980 @conbillposey – Families First Transitions Act! #HelpFLKids #CHSAdvocacy
Example: Thank you for keeping more Fla families safe, strong and together in passing S. 2777 @marorubio @SenRickScott and H.R 4980 @conbillposey – Families First Transitions Act! #HelpFLKids #CHSAdvocacy
Social Advocates:
Stay connected
THANK YOU @WiltonSimpson and @JosieTomkow for sponsoring SB 1324 and HB 1105! #CHSAdvocacy pic.twitter.com/89E7xLty3s
— CHS of FL (@HelpFLKids) January 24, 2020
Click ‘Read More’ to find your congressional member’s social media handle.
| Member of Congress | ||
| Bilirakis, Gus M. | @RepGusBilirakis | https://www.facebook.com/GusBilirakis |
| Buchanan, Vern | @VernBuchanan | https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanBuchanan |
| Castor, Kathy | @USRepKCastor | https://www.facebook.com/USRepKathyCastor |
| Crist, Charlie | @CharlieCrist | https://www.facebook.com/CharlieCrist |
| Demings, Val | @Val_Demings | https://www.facebook.com/Val.Demings |
| Deutch, Ted | @RepTedDeutch | https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanTedDeutch |
| Diaz-Balart, Mario | @MarioDB | https://www.facebook.com/mdiazbalart |
| Dunn, Neal | @DrNealDunn | https://www.facebook.com/NealDunnForCongress |
| Frankel, Lois | @RepLoisFrankel | https://www.facebook.com/RepLoisFrankel |
| Gaetz, Matt | @MattGaetz | https://www.facebook.com/RepresentativeMattGaetz |
| Hastings, Alcee L. | @RepHastingsFL | https://www.facebook.com/Congressman-Alcee-L-Hastings-95696782238 |
| Lawson, Al | @AlLawsonJr | https://www.facebook.com/AlLawsonJr |
| Mast, Brian | @BrianMastFL | https://www.facebook.com/BrianMastFL |
| Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie | @RepDMP | https://www.facebook.com/RepDMP |
| Murphy, Stephanie | @SMurphyCongress | https://www.facebook.com/SMurphyCongress |
| Posey, Bill | @congbillposey | https://www.facebook.com/bill.posey15 |
| Rubio, Marco | @marcorubio | https://www.facebook.com/MarcoRubio |
| Rutherford, John | @JRutherfordFL | https://www.facebook.com/JohnRutherfordFL |
| Scott, Rick | @ScottforFlorida | https://www.facebook.com/RickScottSenOffice/ |
| Shalala, Donna E. | @RepShalala | https://www.facebook.com/RepShalala/ |
| Soto, Darren | @USRepDarrenSot | |
| Steube, W. Gregory | @RepGregSteube | https://www.facebook.com/RepGregSteube/ |
| Wasserman Schultz, Debbie | @RepDWStweets | https://www.facebook.com/RepDWS |
| Wilson, Frederica | @RepWilson | https://www.facebook.com/RepWilson |
| Yoho, Ted | @RepTedYoho | https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanTedYoho |
Additional Resources
2020 Advocacy — Community Partnership Schools Infographic
Download Related Articles
Opinion: Florida’s kids – and future – are counting on you, Andry Sweet
Tallahassee mom attributes reunion with child to Children’s Home Society
Thank you 2019 CHS advocates for empowering children and families to build bridges to success.
2019 Legislative Success
Read the2019 Legislative Impact Report for full details.
Opening doors for future leaders: Senate Page Program
Annually, nearly a dozen youth receive CHS sponsorships to participate in the highly coveted Senate Page program in the Florida Legislature. Thanks to committed senators, teens in CHS programs, including our Community Partnership Schools, can experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a firsthand look into the legislative process.
Teens work alongside lawmakers and have the chance to share their personal testimonies, providing legislators with unique perspectives about how decisions at the Capitol impact lives.
Since 2009, more than 75 CHS youth have experienced the Senate Page program.
