CALL FOR PROPOSALS

As we move forward with this year’s strategic platform, our theme will serve as the cornerstone for our 2026 Call for Proposals and the heart of our conference.

NFF has long supported the philosophy that all individuals are better served in their home communities and continues to oppose the notion of congregate care, especially for our children and youth. We believe that the most effective strategy is to ensure that families, community members, policy makers, and the workforce that supports families are well informed about the pitfalls of returning to institutionalization as the answer to our current workforce shortages and lack of effective treatment. Our conference will host guest speakers and presenters dedicated to Ending Isolation by Creating Responsible Community Ecosystems.

NFF is looking for 60-minute proposals only. We welcome a diverse array of voices that includes those with lived and living experience and those whose work is centered on support and affirmation for these individuals. This richness of perspective offers participants the opportunity to gain knowledge from a powerful field of subject matter experts and to become immersed in a welcoming community that values all members.

We invite you to join us in this important work by submitting a proposal to present at our 2026 Annual Conference taking place at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, FL on October 13-15th.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

Focus Areas

Person-Centered Support: Solutions Designed with a Profound Respect for the Journey

Proposals will focus on 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: The "Secret Sauce" as we Expand the Workforce Tent

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: The Power of Peer and Family-Run Organizations as Agents of Change

Proposals will capture the power of peer and family-run organizations as agents of change. How these organizations balance their dual roles as advocates and providers? Proposals 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: 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.

Please be sure to read the Call for Proposal & Presenter Requirements prior to submitting your proposal.

April 1st: Proposal submission deadline.
April 10th: Proposal decisions will be made, and presenters will be notified.
May 1st: Accepted presenters and co-presenters must be registered.
August 14th: All changes to presenter names and presentation descriptions are due.
September 13th: All final updates, handouts, and PowerPoints must be uploaded in to the Whova conference app.

Prior to completing an application to present at the conference, please be sure that you will be able to commit to the presenter expectations and deadlines.

Important Deadlines to Remember