Final FFPS Community Pathway Requirements Brief – v1.0 (updated 8/18/2026)
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pdf
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Community Pathway
This may include offering the reporting party information about community supports and how to access the Community Pathway.
Inquiry into a child's Indian status should be conducted as part of the hotline intake and emergency response processes.
Depending on Tribal affiliation, this inquiry could result in connecting the family to a Tribe with a Title IV-E Agreement to provide services under the FFPS Program. Any time the Title IV-E agency has reason to believe a person is a member of a Tribe or eligible for membership in a Tribe, the Agency should conduct outreach to the Tribe and include the Tribe in the provision of assessment and services.
Even if families will not be connected to a Title IV-E prevention EBP, provide additional prevention services, supports, and community referrals as appropriate to the family’s circumstances and needs.
Family refers self or referred by another provider, entity, or team to the Tribe.
If at the end of the 12-month period, the family is no longer at imminent risk for foster care entry, Tribe and applicable providers should develop a process for ensuring families can continue some form of service and/or support, if needed.
After approving candidacy, a Tribe may refer a family to the Community Pathway to provide services via a provider the Tribe may be working with.
Requirements for utilizing an Evidence-Based Practice are waived for Tribes. Such prevention services can include a variety of culturally responsive services to meet the needs of family who are members, or eligible for membership, of a Tribe.
Family refers self or is referred by another provider, entity or team.
Families may be referred to the Community Pathway via a variety of teaming methods including, but not limited to:
Community Providers will develop procedures with the IV-E Agency regarding contacting and engaging with Tribes.
Collaboration with the Tribe must occur if a family identifies they are a member of a Tribe. It is considered best practice for community providers to ask families about their culture and background including Tribal affiliation.
When the family identifies that they are a member of a Tribe, the community provider should collaborate with the Tribe whenever possible (regardless of IV-E status) on all aspects of assessment and case planning.
Counties and providers will develop a process for providing services and supports to families who are not eligible for IV-E funded prevention services.
Such process will involve identifying available funding to sustain such services and supports that are not eligible for Title IV-E reimbursement.
If at the end of the 12-month period, the family is no longer at imminent risk for foster care entry, counties and providers should develop a process for ensuring families can continue some form of service and/or support, if needed.
Family may be referred to the Hotline or via a referral to a Probation.
Inquiry into a child's Indian status should be conducted as part of the Probation screening process.
Depending on Tribal affiliation, this inquiry could result in connecting the family to a Tribe with a IV-E agreement to provide services under the FFPS Program. Any time a IV-E agency has reason to believe a person is a member of a Tribe or eligible for membership in a Tribe, the agency should conduct outreach to the Tribe and include the Tribe in the provision of assessment and services.
The family may be connected to a community-based provider to receive other services and/or supports.
Even if families will not be connected to a Title IV-E prevention EBP, provide additional prevention services, supports, and community referrals as appropriate to the family’s circumstances and needs.
For counties that have identified traditional candidates as a population within their Comprehensive Prevention Plans, traditional candidates can be served as a population for prevention services under the FFPS program.
This may include youth identified as 601 or youth who have received a citation.
Or connect to a Tribe with a California IV-E Agreement if applicable