FFTA-For the Good of Families

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FFTA-For the Good of Families

Connection, Education & Advocacy for the Good of Families We provide critical resources, advance best practices, and advocate for community-changing policies.

FFTA is a trusted source of connection, education, and advocacy for organizations serving the well-being of families.

04/28/2026

April is recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year’s theme, Pinwheels of Possibilities, highlights the importance of centering families and building communities where children can grow up safe, healthy, and supported.

Throughout the month, communities across the country have been coming together through awareness campaigns, pinwheel garden displays, and local events that emphasize the role we all play in supporting families and preventing harm before it occurs. These efforts reflect a broader national focus on strengthening families and creating the conditions where children can thrive.

04/27/2026

Join for our next virtual , Human Trafficking in the U.S.: Identifying Risk and Protecting Vulnerable Youth. In this learning session, Dr. Christina Vela and Annika Huff will explore the landscape of human trafficking in the United States and examine the primary motivations of those who perpetrate these crimes. Together, they will outline the vulnerabilities that increase a young person’s susceptibility to exploitation, with particular attention to the unique risks faced by youth in foster care.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1️⃣ Define human trafficking and distinguish it from other forms of exploitation.
2️⃣ Understand why trafficking remains a pervasive issue in the United States, including social, economic, and cultural factors driving its growth.
3️⃣ Identify who perpetrates trafficking, including both traffickers and buyers, and understand the motivations behind their actions.
4️⃣ Recognize key vulnerabilities that increase a young person’s risk of being trafficked.
5️⃣ Examine the intersectionality between trafficking and foster youth, including systemic factors that contribute to heightened risk.
6️⃣ Identify common grooming tactics, with emphasis on online grooming and relationship‑based grooming patterns.
7️⃣ Apply practical strategies for care providers, including how to educate youth about trafficking, build protective relationships, and connect them with resources for safety and support.

This webinar is $195 for FFTA Members and $235 for Nonmembers. Click here for more information and to register: https://www.ffta.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2052703&group=!

04/24/2026

Team Members Allie, Schylar, and Matt spent time at Eureka! Ranch to earn their Blue Belt in Innovation Engineering. Innovation Engineering is a disciplined, evidence-based approach that combines creative thinking, structured problem framing, rapid idea development, and practical evaluation. It is designed to move groups beyond brainstorming toward actionable concepts with a higher likelihood of adoption and impact.

We are so excited to see the broad and direct impacts we can make on foster parent recruitment, and explore other areas where we can build systemic improvements, starting at this year's pre-conference Foster Family Recruitment Innovation Lab.

Join us: https://www.ffta.org/page/PreCon2026!

04/21/2026

Last chance to take advantage of the FFTA 2026 Annual Conference Early Registration Rates. In order to receive the discount for this year's conference in Chicago, (July 7-10), you must register by the EOD on May 1st!

**Learn more here: https://conta.cc/4dYn4Mq! Sending a group of 10 or more attendees? Please reach out to akoscielny@ffta.org.

04/17/2026

Roles in the Career Center offer a glimpse into how family-serving organizations are continuing to grow, adapt, and respond to the needs of children, families, and communities nationwide. Explore all current job postings in the today: https://www.fftaconnect.org/opportunities!

The most recent roles are in the comments below.

04/16/2026

We invite you to take part in a pre-conference lab opportunity focused on Foster Family Recruitment July 6-7 in Chicago, IL. Join leaders from across the country to rethink how we recruit and support foster families, utilizing Innovation Engineering, a disciplined, evidence-based approach that combines creative thinking, structured problem framing, rapid idea development, and practical evaluation.

Traditional recruitment strategies—once effective—are yielding diminishing returns. Public trust dynamics have shifted. Communication patterns have evolved. Digital engagement tactics that surged during the pandemic are losing effectiveness. Workforce pressures and resource constraints compound the challenge.

Hosted as part of the FFTA 2026 Annual Conference, FFTA will convene a Foster Family Recruitment Innovation Lab, bringing together approximately 40 participants from across the country.

This intensive, engaging, and collaborative workshop is designed for active participation. Participants will not simply observe—they will contribute, shape, and develop ideas together in a structured environment. Through this process, participants will:
⭐Create a shared, current understanding of the foster family recruitment challenge
⭐ Surface a wide range of innovative approaches
⭐Integrate participant and broader system perspectives
⭐Clarify assumptions, tensions, and opportunities
⭐Identify a subset of promising directions for further development

Registration Rates:
FFTA Conference Attendee & FFTA Member: $349
FFTA Conference Attendee & Nonmember: $449
Innovation Lab Only Attendee: $599

04/13/2026

We are excited to announce that Matt Priest has joined the team as our new Membership Experience Manager.

Matt has been a trusted and collaborative partner with FFTA for many years. With 25 years of experience in the foster care field, he has led two highly successful foster care programs at different agencies. Most recently at Boys Town, Matt’s leadership resulted in a 600% increase in foster homes over a 15‑year period. Matt brings deep expertise in foster parent training, recruitment, and retention, with experience spanning live and virtual trainings, large-scale recruitment and outreach events, and engagement across print, radio, social media, digital, and television platforms.

A committed FFTA member since 2000, Matt has attended more than 10 FFTA Annual Conferences, participated in multiple FFTA Public Policy Institutes, served on committees, worked as a Policy Ambassador, supported FFTAConnect, and previously served as Chair of the FFTA Nebraska Chapter. One of his most meaningful accomplishments was being selected for the 2023 Dr. Laura Boyd Champion for Children and Families Award by FFTA, an honor he deeply cherishes.

Matt has seen first-hand the power of strong member relationships and believes deeply in the impact of authentic engagement and inspirational leadership. He has mentored multiple state chapters and brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and dedication to helping FFTA Members thrive and stay connected. Please join us in giving Matt a warm welcome!

04/07/2026

is excited to welcome its newest member - Gateway.

Gateway is Birmingham's oldest social services agency and leader in family solutions involving family counseling, foster care and financial counseling.

Learn more here: https://www.gway.org.

04/03/2026

Behind every role is a team, a mission, and a community supporting important work! You can be a great addition to carrying it forward! Explore job postings today in the , and see the opportunities available to you across the country!

The most recent roles available are in the comments below. All open roles can be found here: https://www.fftaconnect.org/opportunities!

04/02/2026

Join for our next virtual , Su***de & Youth: Overview of Risk and Protective Factors, featuring Centene. The purpose of this training is to increase awareness of su***de in youth and recognize how the unique experiences of youth contribute to the complex factors that make adolescence a critical focus in su***de prevention.

During this session you will:
1️⃣ Identify six examples of risk factors in youth
2️⃣ Detect three warning signs of suicidal ideation via a case scenario.
3️⃣ Explain five important considerations when working with individuals who are expressing suicidality.

This webinar is free for FFTA Members and $75 for Nonmembers. Click here for more information and to register: https://www.ffta.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2043787&group=!

03/31/2026

Meet FFTA's 2026 Dr. Laura Boyd Champion for Children & Families Award Recipient, Renee Brown! 🎉

A core focus of Renee’s advocacy has been expanding and strengthening kinship care in Virginia. She has worked to increase access to financial support for kinship caregivers and is especially proud to be one of the advocates who helped advance a legislative change waiving certain barrier crime limitations for kinship foster parents. Renee’s leadership in this space reflects her belief that families should be assessed holistically and that children are best served when safe connections to their family and community can be preserved.

Learn more about Renee here: https://conta.cc/4bA1Dzu! And join us in celebrating Renee's accomplishments at our Public Policy Institute May 18-19! We only have a few remaining spots available before we officially open a waitlist: https://www.ffta.org/event/PPI2026.

03/27/2026

As you are growing your team, the FFTA Career Center connects you to practical tools and resources, designed to support your success. To help you get started, we have several free resources you can utilize today! We look forward to supporting you, your organization, your growth, and your long-term impact in the human services field. Together, we can expand awareness of impactful careers and create a healthy workforce serving families across the country.

Download the Free Resources here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/oVgJdmu/joinfftacommunity!

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466 Hackensack Avenue, #1069
Hackensack, NJ
07601

Website

http://www.ffta.org/

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