Session Description:

This engaging breakout session invites participants to explore additional ways their FAM can serve families and support case managers. Through real examples and collaborative brainstorming, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and practical strategies to make a meaningful impact.

This session will equip you with new lenses to reimagine what’s possible and explore fresh approaches to advocacy - because when we think outside the box, we can create different approaches to care and serve that truly work for everyone involved.

Takeaways:

• Learning innovative ways to serve under FAM: serve days, parent night out, case manager love, and more!

• Strategies on creating incredible “out of the box” serving opportunities
  

Session Description:
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving home—and often, the difference between family preservation and separation comes down to meeting an urgent need during a time of crisis. Enter CarePortal, a powerful platform that connects churches with real-time opportunities to serve vulnerable families in their communities.

In this breakout session, we’ll explore best practices for using CarePortal effectively and sustainably. You’ll learn how to strengthen your church’s response team, identify strategies that match your church culture with CarePortal - creating rhythms to meet tangible needs, and share stories of impact while respecting the dignity of families.

*This session is available both for those already serving through CarePortal and those interested in learning more about it. 

Key Takeaways:

• Setting up your response team for success

• Sharing and brainstorming ideas of how to match your church’s culture to meet the needs in CarePortal

• Stories of impact—and what to avoid—to serve families well with dignity
  

Session Description:
You’ve signed up, said "yes," and now you're officially an advocate - now what? Whether you’re feeling pumped, panicked, or a little bit of both, this session is for you.

Engage with a panel of seasoned advocates who’ve been in the trenches, made the mistakes, learned what works (and what really doesn’t), and lived to tell the tales. This is your chance to soak up practical tips, honest insights, and encouraging stories that will help you grow in confidence and effectiveness as an advocate.

We'll talk strategy, share some laugh-out-loud moments, and leave plenty of space for your questions. You don’t have to figure this out alone—let the veterans help light the way.

Key Takeaways:

• Tried-and-true best practices for a successful FAM

• Common rookie pitfalls—and how to avoid them

• How to build trust with families and caseworkers

• Encouragement for the journey (because it’s worth it!)
  

Session Description:
You’re the team leader now - so great! (And maybe… help?) Whether you’re just stepping into a leader role or looking to sharpen your skills, this breakout session is packed with real talk, tips, and wisdom from an experienced FAM leader who’ve been through it all.

Hear from an experienced FAM team leader who has navigated the ups, downs, and "what now?" moments of leading well. She’ll share practical insights, leadership tips, and real-world wisdom to help you support your team, communicate effectively, and keep the mission moving forward—even when things get messy.

Expect honest stories, a few laughs, and a whole lot of encouragement. Because great leaders don’t have all the answers—they just know how to stay calm, get creative, and phone a friend when the unknown shows up.

Key Takeaways:

• Proven strategies for leading effective, healthy care communities

• Common leadership challenges and how to navigate them

• Encouragement from those that have been there!

Session Description:
As you’ve stepped into serving children from hard places, how can you communicate with them effectively and support their caregivers with compassion? Understanding trauma-informed practices is key to doing both well. When interacting with children from hard places, what you say—and how you listen—can be just as important as what you do. Rooted in the principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), this breakout session will explore how intentional language and active listening can build trust, regulate behavior, and promote healing in kids who’ve experienced trauma.

You’ll learn practical tools to create connection before correction, communicate safety through your words, and respond with empathy instead of instinct. We’ll dive into real-life examples, helpful do’s and don’ts, and the “why” behind what trauma-informed care really looks like in action.

This session isn’t just about strategies—it’s about seeing children the way God sees them, and becoming a safe, supportive presence in the lives of them and the families that care for them.

Key Takeaways:

• Core TBRI principles for interacting with children from trauma and their families

• Why language matters—and how to use it for connection and healing

• How to access the provided TBRI training to equip volunteers (A Place to Belong)

• Practical phrases and tools to use in tough moments of listening and supporting