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Families First Inc

EIN 58-1054331 · Atlanta, GA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAMILIES FIRST STRENGTHENS FAMILY RESILIENCY SO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN THRIVE. THROUGH A PREVENTION-BASED, TWO-GENERATION APPROACH, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INTENSIVE NAVIGATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND PARENTING AND ADOPTION SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS, MENTAL HEALTH, FAMILY STABILITY, AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
56
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$193,296, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. FAMILIES FIRST'S NAVIGATOR SERVICES PROVIDE INTENSIVE, WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING COMPLEX CHALLENGES RELATED TO HOUSING INSTABILITY, ECONOMIC INSECURITY, HEALTH ACCESS, AND CAREGIVING. NAVIGATORS DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLANS, CONNECT CLIENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND TRACK PROGRESS USING STANDARDIZED RESILIENCY AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH TOOLS.IN FY 2025, FAMILIES FIRST SERVED 468 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR SERVICES, PROVIDING 2,477 COMMUNITY REFERRALS TO 310 CLIENTS, INCLUDING 726 REFERRALS FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING, AND UTILITIES. CLIENTS DEMONSTRATED MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, FOOD ACCESS, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.NAVIGATOR SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE TWO-GENERATION PROGRAMS:- TEENAGE PREGNANCY & PARENTING PROGRAM (TAPP): SERVED 57 PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS. OUTCOMES INCLUDED 100% SAFE HOUSING, 90% ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL GOALS, AND 88% DELAYING A SUBSEQUENT UNPLANNED PREGNANCY WHILE ENROLLED.- CHISPA (PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL): SERVED 45 CAREGIVERS, CONDUCTED 968 HOME VISITS, AND DELIVERED 104 PLAY-AND-LEARN SESSIONS. 91% OF PARTICIPATING CAREGIVERS MADE GOOD PROGRESS OR ACHIEVED PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION GOALS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. THE LUCY C. VANCE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDES OUTPATIENT COUNSELING, PSYCHIATRY, SKILL-BUILDING, PEER SUPPORT, AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, CHRONIC STRESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.IN FY 2025, CLINICIANS DELIVERED 1,777 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SESSIONS TO 241 INDIVIDUALS, REPRESENTING A 20% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. 49% OF CLIENTS SHOWED MEASURABLE PROGRESS ON TREATMENT GOALS, EXCEEDING THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE TARGET. THE ORGANIZATION EARNED TIER II COMMUNITY MEDICAID CORE PROVIDER CERTIFICATION, EXPANDED ACCESS TO CARE, AND IMPLEMENTED A NEW ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY AND BILLING.THE VANCE CENTER ALSO ADVANCED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BY HOSTING MASTER'S-LEVEL INTERNS, PSYCHIATRY RESIDENTS, AND FELLOWS, HELPING BUILD GEORGIA'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PIPELINE.
  3. $1.5 million spent. FAMILIES FIRST PROVIDES STATEWIDE PARENTING EDUCATION, CO-PARENTING SUPPORT, ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE PREPARATION, AND POST-PLACEMENT SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY STABILITY AND PERMANENCY.IN FY 2025:- 734 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED NATIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM (NTDC) PRE-SERVICE TRAINING.THE GEORGIA CENTER FOR RESOURCES & SUPPORT DELIVERED 20,528 SERVICES, INCLUDING 14,637 COMPLETED TRAININGS FOR ADOPTIVE, FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND GUARDIANSHIP FAMILIES.- 1,993 INDIVIDUALS SOUGHT ADOPTION REUNION REGISTRY SERVICES, INCLUDING SEARCHES AND NON-IDENTIFYING RECORDS.PARENTING PLUS / ACCESS & VISITATION SERVICES SUPPORTED 303 INDIVIDUALS, WITH 1,113 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS, 266 GROUP SESSIONS, AND 163 PARENTS INCREASING PARENTING TIME.THESE SERVICES IMPROVE CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIPS, REDUCE FAMILY CONFLICT, AND PROMOTE SAFE, STABLE PLACEMENTS FOR CHILDREN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1942.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.