VOICES Recommendations on Family First and Older Youth
VOICES Youth Programs, which has several sites in California, recently released a publication entitled We Are Worth It: Recommendations for Implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The report is comprised of policy recommendations created by systems-involved young people across the state to ensure older youth are supported during the implementation of Family First. Their policy recommendations are designed to fill gaps in implementation efforts, and include the following:
- Establishing peer advocate programs in every county
- Prioritizing sibling connections while families are receiving Family First prevention programs
- Expanding eligibility for independent living services and extended foster care for youth receiving Family First prevention services
- Updating safety and risk assessment tools to reflect the perspectives of older youth when considering possible maltreatment in a home.