WASHINGTON, D.C. — Foster America hosted child welfare experts from the White House at the 2024 Fiscal Leadership Circle Convening for a panel discussion on ways to leverage federal funding to keep families together and thriving.
The event, titled Breaking the Cycle: Developing Strategies to Invest in Prevention, centered on expanding access to the resources families facing hardship need to raise their children—reducing the likelihood of involvement with the child welfare system.
Rebecca Jones Gaston, commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACF) and the most senior Senate-confirmed child welfare official in the Biden administration, served as a panelist on the opening night of Foster America’s three-day convening.
She was joined by Miranda Lynch-Smith, deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Human Services Policy, and Ann Flagg, director of ACF’s Office of Family Assistance. Together, they offered invaluable insight to the Fiscal Leadership Circle, a Foster America fellowship developed for child welfare finance professionals.
The Fiscal Leadership Circle equips child welfare leaders to utilize strategies that prioritize funding for prevention and community-based support services, recognizing that addressing families’ challenges at the first sign of hardship can significantly and safely reduce the need for foster care placements.
This year’s 14 fellows represent 11 jurisdictions that collectively oversee $4.3B, positioning them to make an incredible impact in their areas.
White House dignitaries acknowledged longstanding barriers to connecting families with support but also outlined funding practices that are successfully keeping families together, emphasizing the importance of proactive investments.
“We know what a difference economic and concrete supports—cash in the hands of families—can make in preventing crises,” Flagg said.
Over the 12-month fellowship, each fellow will develop and implement a project in their jurisdiction aimed at expanding access to resources like TANF, Medicaid, and Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) funding.
Learn more about the fellows’ project to finance prevention resources in their jurisdictions here.
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