Earlier this month, the Children’s Trust welcomed nearly 600 local and national family support professionals to our annual “A View from All Sides” conference – the largest conference of its kind in Massachusetts. Attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and participate in workshops with topics ranging from engaging fathers to building community partnerships to using social media as a professional or agency.

We were lucky to be joined by a trio of powerful speakers who shared their insights and inspired all of those in attendance. Reverend Darrell L. Armstrong spoke of his experience as a foster child and his deep belief in promoting resilience and the Protective Factors in the lives of children and their families. Dr. Sharon Melnick offered a look into breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and perspectives that build on vulnerable parents’ strengths. Finally, Dr. Kyle Pruett shared the latest research on paternal engagement and how the it tells us why and how to engage dads.

Congratulations to Kathleen Hardie, a long-time partner of the Children’s Trust and former Executive Director of Valuing Our Children in Athol/Orange, for being recognized as a leader in the family support field and receiving the Frances Litman Leadership Award. In addition, parent recognition awards went to three parents from across the state who have been tremendous advocates for their families and our work this year: Lynette Bond, Angel Quintana, Brittany Bermudez, and Samantha Blinn.

Thank you to the following partners for supporting the conference and helping to ensure that we are keeping Massachusetts’ family support professionals on the cutting edge of the field: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and Wheelock College.