Funding the Future Fellowship explores fiscal strategies
Redirecting child welfare funding toward proactive, prevention-focused solutions that keep families safely together is one of the most powerful levers for long-term change. Federal funding structures have traditionally made paying for out-of-home placement easier — with substantial, dedicated funds — while investment in programs that help families sooner requires tapping more complex and less-sustained funding sources. In 2024, Foster America launched the inaugural Fiscal Leadership Circle (FLC), a fellowship bringing together 14 finance professionals from public child welfare systems and family-focused community organizations across the nation. Collectively, these fellows oversee $4.3B in public funding dedicated to child and family services. The 12-month hybrid fellowship is designed to empower these leaders to reimagine and redirect funding toward prevention programs that keep children safely at home, reducing reliance on foster care. Throughout the year, FLC fellows engage in intensive training on fiscal strategy, explore diverse funding streams, and collaborate on innovative projects aimed at expanding prevention services. Each fellow advanced an innovation project during the fellowship, focusing on areas such as developing funding pipelines for family resource centers, maximizing Title IV-E funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act, and establishing public-private partnerships to prevent youth homelessness. This inaugural cohort marks a pivotal step in transforming child welfare financing. By equipping fiscal leaders with the tools and knowledge to prioritize family well-being, the FLC is fostering a nationwide shift toward proactive, prevention- first approaches in child welfare.
30 | Foster America 2024 Annual Report
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator