Family First Prevention Services Act (On Demand Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the June 2021 live seminar, Family First Prevention Services Act.

On July 1, 2021, Virginia implemented the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). The Virginia Department of Social Services’ Family First Virginia webpage explains the Family First Act underscores the importance of children growing up in families and seeks to avoid the traumatic experience of children being separated from their families and entering foster care. A goal of this federal legislation is to improve the well-being of children already in foster care by incentivizing states to reduce placement of children in non-family based placements, and instead place children in the least restrictive, most family-like setting appropriate to their individual needs.

This program, conducted by representatives of the Virginia Court Improvement Program and the Virginia Department of Social Services, provides updates on the law, new court forms and processes, and what the changes will mean for child welfare practice in Virginia.

FACULTY

Elizabeth Lee, Assistant Director of Protection and Prevention Programs, Division of Family Services, Virginia Department of Social Services / Richmond

Elizabeth Lee began her role as the Assistant Director of Protection and Prevention Programs with the Division of Family Services at the Virginia Department of Social Services in September 2020. She has been employed with the Department since 2016, and previously managed a variety of special projects, including leading the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act and the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development grant. Prior to joining the Department, Elizabeth held positions with local departments of social services as a front-line worker and supervisor. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Social Work Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Eric J. Reynolds, Staff Attorney, Court Improvement Program, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia / Richmond

Eric J. Reynolds is staff attorney for the Court Improvement Program in the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia. Previously, he was an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General in Richmond, representing and advising the Virginia Department of Social Services, the State Executive Council for Children’s Services and the Office of Children’s Services, the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Prior to working at the OAG, he was in private practice, focusing on family law and serving as a court appointed guardian ad litem for children and counsel for parents in child custody and child welfare cases in the Metro-Richmond area. He has been a member of various work groups and advisory panels for the Virginia Department of Social Services and the Commission on Youth, served on the Chesterfield Court Improvement Team, the Chesterfield Head Start Policy Council, the Children’s Justice Act/Court Appointed Special Advocate Advisory Board, the Virginia Court Improvement Program Advisory Committee and its Workgroup to Review the Practice and Performance of GALs for Children, Virginia’s Three Branch Institute, and the Richmond Community Criminal Justice Services Board. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law.