News & Perspectives

Motivational Interviewing: A Guide to Family First Implementation

9. March 2022 PCG Human Services
news

The Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First) authorized new federal Title IV-E funding for evidence-based programs (EBPs) that have been rated and approved by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. One such EBP, Motivational Interviewing (MI), has the potential to change the way child welfare professionals work with and support families. When implemented effectively and with fidelity, MI creates affirming and transformative service experiences through which workers and clinicians have been trained to reach, engage, and empower families—replacing the reactive or punitive interactions that have characterized child welfare for too long. Ultimately, MI is an opportunity for agencies to deliver improved outcomes for children and families using a practice that is approved for federal funding under Family First. As a result, many state and local Title IV-E agencies are opting to include MI in their five-year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plans.

Backed by decades of child welfare practice expertise from across the system of care, Public Consulting Group (PCG) is an active and trusted voice in Family First program design, implementation, and claiming practices. PCG’s Child and Family Services team leveraged broad project experience, deep program knowledge, and proven approaches to develop and publish a new MI guide, created in partnership with Chapin Hall. The Motivational Interviewing Guide is designed to assist state and local Title IV-E agencies with implementing MI as a well-supported EBP in their Title IV-E Prevention Plans. 

PCG and Chapin Hall's publication serves as a roadmap for MI planning and readiness, implementation and change management, claiming, and continuous quality improvement. Download your copy of the Motivational Interviewing Guide today!

Download the MI Guide

 

To learn more about PCG’s work assisting state and local agencies with Family First planning and implementation, click here to access our dedicated Family First page. You’ll also find a range of free, downloadable Family First resources and information about our child welfare team.