ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The National Federation of Families (NFF) will be hosting its 37th Annual Conference October 13th-15th, 2026. The event will welcome hundreds of key researchers, administrators, policymakers, family members, youth, clinicians, and other stakeholders across the nation. The NFF conference will offer attendees premium educational sessions, program/product trainings, and networking opportunities.
The National Federation of Families is the nationwide advocacy organization with families as its sole focus, playing an important role in helping parents, caregivers, and families and their loved ones whose lives are impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. This important work is supported largely by generous sponsors, supporters, and donors like you who contribute to our cause.
The NFF Conference is the premier event bringing together families, caregivers, the family peer workforce, community leaders, providers, partners, and legislators. Our annual conference generates a large amount of discussion on current challenges and trends pertaining to families and the health of their loved ones, from the perspective of a family-driven approach.
Our annual conference features many great workshops and speakers, joining hundreds of mental health and substance use advocates, family members, and professional from across the nation as we work to educate and advocate for families and their loved ones.
Our conference offers families and the workforce who support them to:
• Improve policy and enhance practices for families and their loved ones who have or are at risk of experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorders
• Acquire skills and strategies that will improve outcomes for families
• Gain knowledge of best practices and latest research in mental health, substance use and related fields as it pertains to families
• Enrich understanding of different perspectives and common goals in support of all families
The Urgency of Now – Ending Isolation by Creating Responsive Community Ecosystems
Focus Areas for the 2026 Conference
Person-Centered Solutions
Proposals will focus on person-centered solutions designed with a profound respect for the journey of others and to meet each person where they are. What is true person-centered support and why is addressing the self-identified supports of each individual the most effective path to building family and community resilience that benefits everyone? Let’s re-center our work on the mantra “nothing about us without us”.
Lived and Living Experience
Proposals will explore the “secret sauce as we expand our workforce tent" using data and stories of impact. We’re on the precipice of an exciting new frontier as we add a variety of peer support to our workforce, including sibling to sibling and spousal to name a few. Sessions should answer the questions: “What is authentic peer support?”, “How/why does it work”, and “What makes it a critical and effective practice?” What is the magic of leveraging shared lived experience to support families whose loved ones are impacted by mental health and/or substance use?
Blending Advocacy and Support
Proposals will capture the power of peer and family run organizations as agents of change. How do these organizations balance their dual roles as advocates and providers? Sessions should describe what makes these organizations uniquely qualified to understand the needs of families and communities and demonstrate their expertise in developing and delivering supports and services that truly answer their call.
Amplifying Innovation
Proposals will explore new frontiers in family support. In an age of great change and new challenges, the urgency and need for family support to evolve is clear. Proposals will broach new topics that impact families and focus on burgeoning programs, strategies, trends and approaches that can benefit attendees in being responsive to what families need today.