2026 The Village Caregiver Conference

Helping our young people navigate the world can feel overwhelming. With the amount of information coming at us, the complexity of managing phones and screens, and the daily social pressures our kids face, it’s virtually impossible to manage. But what if we step out of the complexity and the noise, and focus on dependable strategies that help our families handle anxiety, moods, and relationships? What if we focused on simplifying rather than complicating?  Based on current research and over 36 years of clinical experience, Lynn Lyons will talk about the common traps adults fall into and — more importantly — the key skills we all need, skills that foster connection and capacity… and are the opposite of what anxiety and depression demand.

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Learn more about New Hampshire’s A Home for Every Child Innovation Challenge and the priorities shaping our work to strengthen outcomes for children and families.

This session will provide an overview of the initiative and explore the many ways foster caregivers can be part of the solution. We’ll look at how caregivers can use their own voices, experiences, relationships, and community connections to share the needs of children in care and help others understand the difference a foster family can make.

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The New Hampshire DCYF Father Engagement Action Team (FEAT) will present their current work within the NH Child Welfare System. Participants will hear from FEAT members about the ongoing action work and strategies, including the use of practice profiles to utilize “father voice” within the child protection and juvenile justice system of NH. This work is leading to greater agency, community, and system capacity to positively engage and provide equity to fathers.

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Foster and kinship caregiving can be deeply rewarding—but it can also stretch your time, energy, relationships, and sense of self. This session will explore practical ways to recognize and prevent caregiver burnout while protecting the connections that matter most, including your nuclear family and yourself. We’ll talk about building and using your village, setting healthy boundaries, making space for your passions, and staying connected to the people and things that help you thrive. Come discover how caring for yourself and your family isn’t selfish—it’s an essential part of sustaining your caregiving journey.

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Hair care is about more than looking good—it can be an important part of a child’s identity, culture, confidence, and sense of belonging.

Join a professional hairstylist for a fun, hands-on learning experience designed to help foster caregivers feel confident caring for the hair of children in their care. We’ll take a special focus on textured and ethnic hair, including understanding different hair types, healthy hair routines, products, detangling, and styling techniques that can help children stay connected to their culture and identity.

And this isn’t a “watch and take notes” session! Caregivers will have the opportunity to practice what they learn using mannequins and live models, with guidance from a professional stylist. We’ll cover practical skills for all hair types—from everyday maintenance and detangling to braids, protective styles, ponytails, and other simple techniques.

No prior experience? Don't worry, we've got you covered!

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Whether a child is 6 months old or 16 years old, entering foster care often means stepping into a world filled with uncertainty. While we cannot control every challenge a child or youth will face, we can create moments of predictability, connection, and belonging.

From the way we welcome a new placement, to family meals, celebrations, goodbyes, visits,  reunifications, and the small things we do "just because that's what our family does," rituals help transform relationships and create a sense of home. In this session, we will explore how intentional traditions and everyday practices can support trust, strengthen connections, and help children and youth feel seen, valued, and included. Participants will leave with practical, age-inclusive ideas for creating meaningful rituals that support children, youth, and foster and biological families through both everyday moments and life's biggest transitions.

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Our afternoon session will feature an engaging panel focused on creating stability and normalcy for children in care. This conversation will bring together diverse and valuable perspectives, including:

1. Youth with Lived Experience in Foster Care
2. Current Foster Caregivers
3. Caseworkers and Professionals in the Field  

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What does it take for caregivers and DCYF to work better together—and for caregivers to feel supported, valued, and confident in continuing this important work?

This session brings caregivers and DCYF together for an honest, solution-focused conversation about where we are, where we’re headed, and how we can continue improving the foster care experience together. We’ll share current progress and important updates, highlight opportunities for collaboration, and create space for caregivers to hear directly from multiple perspectives within the child welfare system.

A diverse panel—including a foster parent, CPSW, DCYF leader, and other voices from the field—will discuss what’s working, what we’re learning, and how caregivers and DCYF can partner more effectively.

The goal is simple: stronger relationships, better communication, greater collaboration, and a stronger support system for caregivers and the children they serve.

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Hair care is about more than looking good—it can be an important part of a child’s identity, culture, confidence, and sense of belonging.

Join a professional hairstylist for a fun, hands-on learning experience designed to help foster caregivers feel confident caring for the hair of children in their care. We’ll take a special focus on textured and ethnic hair, including understanding different hair types, healthy hair routines, products, detangling, and styling techniques that can help children stay connected to their culture and identity.

And this isn’t a “watch and take notes” session! Caregivers will have the opportunity to practice what they learn using mannequins and live models, with guidance from a professional stylist. We’ll cover practical skills for all hair types—from everyday maintenance and detangling to braids, protective styles, ponytails, and other simple techniques.

No prior experience? Don't worry, we've got you covered!

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Every young person is on a hero's journey - figuring out who they are, what they want, and what kind of adult they will become. But no hero makes it alone. They need guides: the trusted adults who help them navigate challenges and unlock their potential.

In this keynote, Joshua Wayne shares his Hero & Guide Framework - a practical system for becoming one of the voices young people listen to as they're navigating toward adulthood.  Drawing on 25+ years working with teens in foster care, schools, juvenile justice, and private practice, Joshua shares three keys to help them be their own ally, take responsibility, and keep moving forward.

You'll learn proven strategies for connecting with resistant kids, breaking through when it matters, and staying in their inner circle of trusted advisors long-term.

But here's the twist: Joshua will also apply the same framework to YOU - helping you sustain resilience, avoid burnout, and stay grounded in demanding work.

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Whether a child is 6 months old or 16 years old, entering foster care often means stepping into a world filled with uncertainty. While we cannot control every challenge a child or youth will face, we can create moments of predictability, connection, and belonging.

From the way we welcome a new placement, to family meals, celebrations, goodbyes, visits,  reunifications, and the small things we do "just because that's what our family does," rituals help transform relationships and create a sense of home. In this session, we will explore how intentional traditions and everyday practices can support trust, strengthen connections, and help children and youth feel seen, valued, and included. Participants will leave with practical, age-inclusive ideas for creating meaningful rituals that support children, youth, and foster and biological families through both everyday moments and life's biggest transitions.

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Our afternoon session will feature an engaging panel focused on creating stability and normalcy for children in care. This conversation will bring together diverse and valuable perspectives, including:

1. Youth with Lived Experience in Foster Care
2. Current Foster Caregivers
3. Caseworkers and Professionals in the Field  

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Connect with NHFAPA leadership and members of our State Legislature for an informal conversation about foster care.  This session is an opportunity to share your needs and recommendations on ways that they can improve our system to better support our caregiver families.

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AI technology has incredible capabilities and is enhancing every day. Join the ICAC Task Forces in a webinar for more information on everyday uses of AI, concerns about misuse and abuse and the impact on children, and resources for additional information or if help is needed.

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