Public Policy
We advocate for policies and services that strengthen families and communities, promote healthy child development, and prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens.
We do this through our nationwide state chapter network and nearly 600 Healthy Families America (HFA) evidence-based home visiting program sites across the country.
The public policy program at Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) operates on the national level to mobilize support for federal policies and provide technical support to help facilitate effective advocacy at the state and local levels, too. When communities, policymakers, and resources are invested in prevention strategies, we can begin to envision a world where the negative impacts and outcomes from child maltreatment will be nonexistent.
PCA America has been fortunate to have continued widespread bipartisan support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents for our policies and initiatives and are grateful for Congress’ actions to support children and families.
Issues We’re Focused On Now
The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (Family First) changes the federal financing structure for child welfare programming by allowing states, territories, and tribes the option of using federal Title IV-E funds for prevention programs such as Healthy Families America, offering an opportunity for states to provide services to more families and prevent foster care system involvement. Family First gives states the opportunity to use federal funding (Title IV-E) to establish prevention services to strengthen families, prevent maltreatment, and addresses other conditions that lead to out-of-home placement. The majority of states have submitted their Family First Title IV-E Prevention Plan to date. There are at least 36 states that have either an approved Family First Prevention Plan or have submitted their Prevention Plan to the Children’s Bureau for review.
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest Child Tax Credit ever and historic relief to the most working families ever – and as of July 15th, most families are automatically receiving monthly payments. This tax cut for families will help ease the burden of rising costs, the impact of the current pandemic, and is helping all families succeed, from families struggling to cover basic needs like food, rent, and other bills, to middle-class families that need help with child care and college savings. Data from the Census Household Pulse survey shows that families mostly spent their recent Child Tax Credit payments on basic needs, including food, utilities, clothing, school supplies, paying down debt, and boosting savings. However, this critical support is set to expire. As the House and Senate are finalizing the reconciliation package–the annual federal budget process where Congress sets total spending, revenues, the surplus or deficit, and the public debt–decisions are being made on the Child Tax Credit now.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is a federal law that provides grants to states to support the prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse and neglect. While the majority of federal dollars for child abuse and neglect support foster care services, CAPTA supports front-end services that prevent system involvement and keeps families together whenever safely possible. CAPTA is due to be reauthorized by Congress in 2022. PCA America supports a strong and comprehensive reauthorization bill that includes significantly higher funding levels, increases transparency and accountability in the program, increases the focus on primary prevention and family support services, and promotes race equity.
Policy Agendas & Resources
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2021 Federal Policy Agenda
If we are to achieve our prevention aims, we must prioritize all children and families in both policy and budgetary decisions. By enacting the recommendations outlined in this document, we’ll make sure that children and families can keep moving forward, even during this difficult time.
Toolkits & Guides
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2021 State Public Policy Prevention Strategies
Supporting children and families through state-level policy is one of the most promising strategies for preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting health and well-being. This resource details our public policy priorities for 2021.
Toolkits & Guides
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The American Rescue Plan Act: Frequently Asked Questions on CAPTA and MIECHV Provisions
This resource answers frequently asked questions about the The American Rescue Plan Act, specifically addressing the provisions related to emergency funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).
Toolkits & Guides
Select Public Policy Resources
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Paid Family Medical & Sick Leave Toolkit
This toolkit is a product of the Prevent Child Abuse (PCA America) Chapter Network Policy Affinity Group’s work across the policy area of paid family leave as a strategy in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Affinity Group Reports
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Medicaid & Home Visiting
Learn why the Medicaid program is a good funding option for states who wish to both support existing home visiting services and expand access to home visiting services.
Stats & Factsheets
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Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) & HFA Home Visiting
Learn how the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) gives states, territories, and tribes the option to use child welfare programming funds (Title IV-E federal funds) for evidence-based preventive services.
Stats & Factsheets
Engage in Advocacy
You can influence public policy. Advocacy happens in many different ways, but at its core advocacy is about raising awareness, building and leveraging relationships, and educating others around the issues and policies that matter to you.
With our easy-to-use Voter Voice action center (below), you can learn more about the issues we support and sign up for action alerts. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these issues and share the information widely with your personal and professional networks.
Voter Voice also lets you find and contact your elected representatives. Policymakers want to hear about the issues that concern their constituents the most and welcome your feedback. Help advocate for children and families in your community by letting your legislators know you support policies and programs that promote healthy child development and prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens.
Our Public Policy Experts
