National Adoption Association (NAA) 2026 National Conference - Boston

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.

“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
  

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 [SK1]Brandi Title to be confirmed

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.

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.