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Monday, April 27
 

7:30am EDT

Continental Breakfast and Exhibits Open
Monday April 27, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
Ballroom AB

Monday April 27, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
Ballroom AB
  Networking

8:30am EDT

Welcome to NAA 2026 National Conference; Welcome to Boston, New England Priorities and Opening Keynote Speaker
Monday April 27, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am EDT
Ballroom AB
Featuring NAA Leadership, Recognizing Mashpee Wampanoag Leaders, New England Commissioners and Directors and a Keynote by Anthony Barrows, Executive Director of LIFT – New York

Opening Remarks:
“When we know better, we do better”
Kamilah Bunn CEO, National Adoption Association

The exciting welcome message will be delivered by the leadership of The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Commissioner Staverne Miller, LCSW. This inspiring place-based morning message will help attendees generate goals, strategies, and take action to strengthen permanency outcomes in their jurisdictions.
Speakers
KB

Kamilah Bunn

National Adoption Association (NAA)

avatar for Commissioner Staverne Miller

Commissioner Staverne Miller

Staverne Miller is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), having been appointed by Governor Maura T. Healey in 2024. With over 30 years of experience in social work, Miller has held various leadership positions within DCF, including Acting... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am EDT
Ballroom AB

9:15am EDT

New England Priorities and Progress
Monday April 27, 2026 9:15am - 9:35am EDT
Ballroom AB
“New England Priorities and Progress, in partnership with the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors”, facilitated by Executive Director Maria Gagnon

The New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (NEACWCD) Executive Director, Maria Gagnon, will then facilitate a panel discussion including Staverne Miller, LCSW Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and her colleagues:
Susan Hamilton, Interim Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Bobbi Johnson, Director Maine Office of Children and Family Services
Marie Noonan, Director, Division of Children, Youth and Families, New Hampshire Dept of Health & Human Services
Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Children and Families Vermont
Brandi Di Dino, Deputy Director, Division of Children, Youth and Families Rhode Island
  
 [SK1]Brandi Title to be confirmed
Moderators
avatar for Maria Gagnon

Maria Gagnon

Loperena Mentorship Awardee, New England Association Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors
Maria has spent more than 30 years in leadership roles across the nonprofit and public sectors, advancing systems that support children, youth, and families. She currently serves as Executive Director of the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (NEACWCD... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Commissioner Staverne Miller

Commissioner Staverne Miller

Staverne Miller is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), having been appointed by Governor Maura T. Healey in 2024. With over 30 years of experience in social work, Miller has held various leadership positions within DCF, including Acting... Read More →
avatar for Susan Hamilton

Susan Hamilton

Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Attorney Hamilton has over thirty (32) years of management, social work, legal and legislative experience in the area of youth justice, family law and child welfare, including over 20 years of prior experience with DCF, beginning as a front-line social worker and culminating in serving... Read More →
avatar for Ashley Deckert

Ashley Deckert

Ashley Deckert serves as the Director for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), a state agency statutorily responsible for children’s behavioral health, child welfare and juvenile justice. Director Deckert is passionate about improving child and family... Read More →
avatar for Bobbi Johnson

Bobbi Johnson

Bobbi L. Johnson, LMSW, has served as Director of the Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) since January 2024. In her role, she is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of child welfare and early care and education services in Maine.
Director Johnson holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maine and has demonstrated commitment to Maine children and families, as reflected in her 30-year career in social work and public service. She has supported countless children and families, brings experience... Read More →
avatar for Marie Noonan

Marie Noonan

New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families
Marie Noonan, MSW, is a child welfare leader with more than 25 years of experience in state government, committed to strengthening outcomes for children, youth, and families, by valuing both lived experience and the child welfare workforce.  Throughout her career, she has held a... Read More →
avatar for Aryka Radke

Aryka Radke

Aryka Radke, JD Deputy Commissioner Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services DivisionAryka Radke serves as Deputy Commissioner of the Family Services Division (FSD) within the Vermont Department for Children and Families. Appointed by Governor Phil Scott in 2021, she leads the division responsible for Vermont’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.Since joining... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 9:15am - 9:35am EDT
Ballroom AB

9:40am EDT

Opening Keynote: “Making the Leap toward Economic Justice: A Social Worker and Former Youth in Foster Care’s Journey to Address the Root Cause of Separation”
Monday April 27, 2026 9:40am - 10:20am EDT
Ballroom AB
Anthony Barrows will share his experience in the foster care system as an anchor for why he searches for the root cause of family separation. This search led Anthony to become a powerful advocate within the anti-poverty movement.  
This riveting keynote is part lecture and part call-to-action to members of the NAA community. Anthony will offer a rationale for why we must build partnerships across silos to truly improve outcomes within the systems where we work. As a person who has dedicated his professional career to improving outcomes for marginalized communities and as someone with personal experience in public systems like foster care, public housing, safety net programs, and juvenile justice, Anthony shares how he is living the experience. Attendees will understand why we must all take the leap to expand our sphere of influence– as Anthony did, to truly change and improve systems for children, youth and families.
Speakers
avatar for Anthony Barrows

Anthony Barrows

LIFT-NY
Anthony Barrows is the Executive Director of LIFT – New York. Before joining LIFT, Anthony founded the Center for Behavioral Design & Social Justice at Project Evident where he organized people with lived experience to build community and pursue systems change. Prior to that, Anthony... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 9:40am - 10:20am EDT
Ballroom AB

11:00am EDT

Workshop A3: Preparing Youth for Permanency Through Meaningful Relationships (1.0 CE National Association of Social Workers- NASW))
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW)    

Too often, permanency preparation with youth begins only once a family has been identified, which may not fully address the unique needs of youth who have experienced significant trauma. Trauma can profoundly affect a youth’s ability to trust and form stable attachments, and years spent in out-of-home care can leave youth “out of practice” in developing healthy interpersonal relationships.
Our approach emphasizes the importance of starting permanency preparation early and involving supportive adults who can play a vital role in helping the youth relearn social and emotional skills, such as how to build and maintain relationships, communicate effectively, and navigate family and community dynamics. By focusing on individualized strategies that align with each youth’s cognitive, developmental, and emotional needs, we can tailor the process to build trust, resilience, and ultimately, readiness for permanency.
This approach is not just about finding a family for the youth, but about empowering them to enter a stable and loving environment, fully prepared to thrive. Engaging supportive adults throughout this process further strengthens the foundation for long-term success and well-being.   
Speakers
BS
avatar for Danielle DiMatteo

Danielle DiMatteo

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
  Complex Needs

11:00am EDT

Workshop A2: Rooted in Family: Transforming Permanency Outcomes with Kin (1.0 CE National Association of Social Workers)
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Nantucket
1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW)

This training explores effective permanency practices that prioritize kinship care within child welfare systems. Participants will learn how to implement a kin-first culture, apply diligent recruitment strategies, and leverage successful state-level initiatives to improve outcomes for children placed with relatives. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, the session will equip professionals with tools to enhance relational and legal permanency for youth in care.
Speakers
DB
avatar for Margarita Hughes

Margarita Hughes

National Child Welfare Advisor, Raise the Future
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Nantucket
  Kinship Track

11:00am EDT

Workshop A1: Play Together Stay Together- Building Bonds Through Play to Support Adoption & Kinship Families
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Concord
This interactive workshop introduces Play Together Stay Together, a vital component of the Adopt America Network’s Ongoing Adoption and Kinship Support Program. Designed to strengthen family connections through intentional play, this program helps adoptive, kinship, and resource families build trust, foster attachment, and develop meaningful relationships.  Participants will gain an overview of how play is used as a powerful therapeutic and relational tool and explore the benefits of shared activities for both children and caregivers. Participants will also be introduced to how this program offers a community of other resources for adoptive and resource families, creating pathways for support, connection, and collaboration beyond the session.  Ideal for professionals looking for creative ways to reinforce family unity and cultivate lasting ties to better ensure permanency for youth in resource or adoptive families.     
Speakers
WS

Wendy Spoerl

President, Adopt America Network

JS

Jessica Swaisgood

Director of Operations and Programs, Adopt America Network
Monday April 27, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Concord
  Post Adopt

12:30pm EDT

AdoptUSKids Lunch & Learn: “Centering Lived Experience in Adoption Practice”
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom AB
Join the AdoptUSKids team for a special Lunch & Learn featuring the premiere screening of the AdoptUSKids’ video: “When We Have Each Other: Teen Adoption Stories.” The video highlights the voices of youth and families who are living the experience of adoption from foster care.
This interactive session will introduce a new discussion guide designed for facilitators to support thoughtful, trauma-informed conversations with pre-adoptive families, foster families, child welfare professionals, and youth. Following the screening, participants will engage in a table discussion and share feedback that will help inform future dissemination and use of the guide and video resource across the country.
A boxed lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.
Speakers
avatar for Melinda Kline, MSW

Melinda Kline, MSW

Melinda Kline, LSCSW, National Project Director (NPD) – AdoptUSKids 
Melinda is a proud Citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.  
Melinda has 30+ years of child welfare and Social Work experience with an emphasis on permanency, foster care and adoption.  Prior to her current position as NPD at AdoptUSKids, she served as the Deputy Director of Permanency Programs for the State of Kansas. Melinda has national... Read More →
PR

Pamela Robbins

Raise the Future
KA

Katie Amelse

Raise the Future/National Center for Diligent Recruitment/AdoptUSKids
avatar for Margarita Hughes

Margarita Hughes

National Child Welfare Advisor, Raise the Future
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom AB
  Pre-Register

12:30pm EDT

Ujima Collective Lunch & Learn: “Increasing Economic Opportunity and Connections for System-Involved Youth and Caregivers”
Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Plymouth
Learn from the Ujima Collective how to successfully work across silos and systems. This session will help adoption professionals reenvision their role beyond permanency to wellbeing. Professionals will discuss ways to lend their talent to the movement for economic mobility and the preservation of connections for communities most impacted by the foster care system.
Members of the Ujima Leadership Council and Ujima Collective leaders, allies and proteges will highlight initiatives that bring together business industry partners and child welfare leaders to create more economic opportunities for system-impacted youth and caregivers. Join us and build your skills in system navigation for the youth you serve with interactive case studies, polls, and thought-provoking dialogue with peers.
Each attendee will leave the session with preventive action steps to divert and deflect children and youth on their caseload from foster care towards thriving lives. The session will spark curiosity around what role adoption professionals can play in wellbeing.
A boxed lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.   
Speakers
WC

William Cedano

Ujima Collective

avatar for Lanecia Radcliff

Lanecia Radcliff

Presenter- Ujima Impact Award, NAA National Director of Ujima Collective
 Lanecia Radcliff is a passionate child welfare professional with over 25 years of experience.  Ms. Radcliff now works as the NAA National Director of the Ujima Collective. Ms. Radcliff is a certified case manager, a volunteer for Guardian Ad Litem and advocates   for children... Read More →
avatar for Joyce James, LMSW

Joyce James, LMSW

Joyce James is the President and CEO of Joyce James Consulting, (JJC). JJC provides technical assistance and support, training, coaching, data analysis and leadership development to multiple systems, institutions, and faith and community-based organizations across the country with... Read More →
avatar for Taylor Adelsohn

Taylor Adelsohn

National Adoption Association (NAA)


avatar for Tashia Roberson-Wing

Tashia Roberson-Wing

Ujima Consultant National Adoption Association

avatar for Maci Kean

Maci Kean

National Adoption Association (NAA)
Maci Kean is currently a Senior Project Specialist with The Ujima Collective. She leads initiatives under the Ujima Collective to elevate youth voice, advance workforce equity, and support healing-centered engagement for transition-age youth.     After being adopted at the age of... Read More →
MB

Marcie Baker-Hinds

Ujima Collective

LM

Larome Myrick

Ujima Collective
KB

Kamilah Bunn

National Adoption Association (NAA)

Monday April 27, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Plymouth
  Pre-Register

1:45pm EDT

Workshop A4: Beyond the Diagnosis: Building Lifelong Families for Children with Disabilities: Practical Tools for Cross-Agency Teams to Recruit, Prepare, and Support Prospective/Pre-Adoptive Families
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Concord
According to Platt and Gephart (2022), children with disabilities in foster care spent an average of 915 days in foster care compared to 514 days for children without a disability. Once placed, children with disabilities in foster care had a mean of 4.0 disruptions while the mean is 2.37 disruptions among those without a disability. It is clear that these numbers need to change. This workshop will explore common barriers to permanency for children with disabilities, offer actionable strategies for recruitment and family preparation, highlight how cross-agency teams can collaborate more effectively. This will be an interactive session with the opportunity to learn from families and youth who are living the experience post-permanency.  
Speakers
MJ

Melissa Johnson

Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
KR

Kristina Russell

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE)
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Concord
  Complex Needs

1:45pm EDT

Workshop A6: Kinnect to Family (1.0 CE National Association of Social Workers)
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW

Kinnect to Family (KTF) program was developed nearly 20 years ago and brought to Ohio where it was implemented by several counties in 2017. The program initiative, process, and values will be discussed. KTF program effectiveness and placement numbers will be highlighted.
This workshop will include the Kinnect to Family Specialist along with a relative who accepted placement through the KTF program. The relative will discuss her story of the successful placement and the difference KTF made on her life.    
KTF is an urgent, diligent family search and engagement program to identify and connect youth with kin, both biological and chosen-who can provide permanency and support. Through innovative tools and best practices, KTF helps ensure that youth remain connected to the people who know and love them.
Speakers
HR
LM

Lisa Mullholand

Sandusky County Dept of Job and Family Services
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
  Kinship Track

1:45pm EDT

Workshop A5: A Study of Adoption Disruption and Dissolution in Minnesota
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Nantucket
​This workshop will provide an overview of an adoption disruption and dissolution study conducted by Wilder Research Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). This study included surveys and interviews with adoption professionals, families as well as youth. Also, the study included a demographic analysis of adoption disruptions in Minnesota. We have concluded data collection and are currently working on data analysis as well as findings review. Our presentation will provide a background of the research study, a literature review summary, participant demographic information, and methodology. In addition, the presentation will provide an overview of preliminary findings and preliminary insights. Finally, the presentation will provide an overview of successes and challenges for the project thus far as well as a discussion of potential areas of focus for recommendations.
Speakers
avatar for Michelle Frazier

Michelle Frazier

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Monday April 27, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Nantucket
  Post Adoption Track

3:30pm EDT

Workshop A8: In My Own Words: Centering Youth Voice in Placement and Permanency
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Nantucket
Youth with complex needs generally experience an increased number of placement changes – with a direct correlation with an increased length of stay in care. During the placement search process, prospective families receive relevant information about the youth, which often is limited to a list of diagnoses and behaviors. Youth often have little to no voice in the process.
 
Northwest Adoption Exchange (NWAE) “In my own words,” project aims to give youth a chance to give context to their “file”. Youth are empowered to create a video narrative project that allows them to share their hopes and goals for the future, their interests, and dive into some of the things they might be struggling with or working on. This approach ensures youth voice is central in any placement discussions about them.
 
This interactive session will review the “In My Own Words” project and its theory. Attendees will discuss actionable goals to elevate youth voice in a way that leads to placement stability and permanency in their jurisdictions
Speakers
KS
KH

Kailee Haong Ellis

Northwest Adoption Exchange
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Nantucket
  Complex Needs Track

3:30pm EDT

Workshop A7: Kinship Connections: Integrating Adoption and Guardianship Preparation Training (AGPT) into Oregon’s Work with Kin (1.0 CE National Association of Social Workers)
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Concord
1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW

While the Adoption and Guardianship Preparation Training (AGPT) equip caregivers with tools to navigate grief, attachment, identity and openness, kinship families often face these challenges in deeply personal ways. This panel will explore how AGPT principles can be tailored to meet the needs of kinship families.
The presentation will discuss the challenges and successes Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has experienced in preparing families for permanency. Attendees will learn how customizing the AGPT curriculum can help bridge the gap in training and supporting kinship caregivers.
Speakers
avatar for DaJari Patterson

DaJari Patterson

Spaulding for Children
With over 25 years of experience in child welfare, my passion for Social Work and Human Services is unwavering. I have expertise in Foster Care, Adoption, Kinship Care, and Resource Development at both the state and county level. I am currently working with the National Center for... Read More →
KI
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Concord
  Kinship Track

3:30pm EDT

Workshop A9: Beyond the File: Reimagining Family Connections Through Family Finding (1.0 CE National Association of Social Workers)
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW)    

This session will introduce professionals to Paths for Families Family Finding program, the only initiative of its kind in the state, built on a powerful public-private partnership that redefines how we engage, reconnect, and advocate for youth in foster care.  Participants will gain insight into the program’s history, its measurable success, and the collaborative model that bridges child welfare agencies with community-based services. At the heart of this work is a strength-based approach that prioritizes maintaining and repairing important relationships, even in the face of complex histories and challenging behaviors. 
Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will explore: 
  • How the program engages relatives and helps them see beyond a child’s behaviors to their underlying needs and strengths  
  • Strategies for rebuilding trust between families and the child welfare system  
  • The role of advocacy and case coordination in supporting sustainable reconnections  
  • The Family Finding process, including tools for identifying and involving extended family and kin networks  
An overview of pre and post permanency supports in achieving and maintaining permanency 
Speakers
ML

Melissa Lewis- Ransom, LMSW

Family Find Program Manager, Paths for Families


LS
Monday April 27, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Adrienne Salon
  Kinship Track

5:00pm EDT

NAA 2026 Conference Welcome Reception and Silent Auction
Monday April 27, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Ballroom AB and Terrace
Join us for an engaging and entertaining networking time for the Welcome Reception and Silent Auction sponsored by the NAA Board of Directors 
Monday April 27, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Ballroom AB and Terrace
  Networking
 
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