National Adoption Association (NAA) 2026 National Conference - Boston

1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW)

In this workshop participants will be immersed in the 40-year journey of a social worker who navigated the landscape of multiple systems starting as a young inexperienced social worker and moving to being a leader in one of the largest child welfare systems in the country. The presentation will include examples of the challenges of living our social work values and some strategies for ensuring we hold to our vision of helping and not harming the people and communities we serve.

This interactive training strengthens the capacity of child welfare professionals to uplift and partner with youth in foster care by centering their voices, honoring their legal rights, and cultivating healing‑centered practices. Participants will examine ways to amplify youth voice, support young people in understanding and exercising their rights, and co‑create opportunities for youth to bring fresh vision and momentum to long‑standing systems. The session highlights how NAA intentionally integrates protégés—young adults with lived experience in foster care who are entering the workforce—into the Ujima Collective. This innovative model offers a forward‑thinking blueprint for succession planning and sustainable systems‑change leadership. Through real‑world scenarios, collaborative design activities, and youth‑centered healing approaches, professionals will gain practical methods for elevating young people as true partners in shaping their lives and transforming the systems designed to support them.

Welcome Students, join us and learn about careers in the adoption and permanency field by networking with Executives and Professionals. Bring business cards!