FAQ's FFCA Conference

Welcome to the 24th Annual Families and Fathers National/International Conference
Be The Difference 2023
Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel
5711 W Century BLVD, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Monday, April 24th - Thursday, April 27th
Gala and Awards Dinner - Wednesday, April 26th

The 24^th Annual Families and Fathers International Conference starts on April 24 with a Pre-Conference Institute. The Opening Day is Tuesday, April 25, and the Closing Day is Thursday, April 27, 2023. The conference will be a hybrid event. We will limit less than 10% of speakers to presenting virtually. The required in-person attendance for all speakers will enhance the overall experience for attendees regardless of if you are joining us onsite or virtually.

Diversity is the word to describe our national conference best. Attendees represent diverse professional fields such as child welfare, early childhood, marriage and family therapists, social work, criminal justice, psychologists, educators, counselors, family service workers, fatherhood practitioners, public policy, and foundations. Diversity in the range of attendees' ages from teens to our eldest attendee, 104 years young, yes one hundred and four years! The diversity of culture is progressive at this national event—one final theme of our conference is the sense of bonding. We have a platform that has forged friendships, professional colleagues, resources, and a deep understanding of community, all seeking to help others.

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IS THIS A CONFERENCE FOR MEN OR FATHERS ONLY?

No, this is one of the more diverse events not just by gender but by the diversity of backgrounds.

WHO USUALLY ATTENDS THIS CONFERENCE?

FFCA is honored to host researchers, elected policy-makers, and CEOs of for-profit ventures and blend with nonprofits, interfaith and local to national government attendees. About 90% of attendees annually work helping mothers and fathers, oversee programs working with children and families, ensure staff gets valued professional development support (proven evidence-based interventions and cutting-edge) for continuous quality improvement, and others. Most are seeking how to enhance approaches towards fathers and make a difference in the lives of children, parents, families, and communities.

HOW ARE THE SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS PLANNED?

All workshops, general sessions, roundtables, exceptional networking, and exhibitors will be LIVE! Create your program and engage with all speakers in advance. When you register, the email you use for enrollment is the "ticket" to create your schedule and RSVP for the sessions.

WHAT IF I WANT TO ATTEND TWO SESSIONS AT THE SAME TIME?

Great News for YOU! All sessions are live and will be recorded. You will be able to connect with attendees and speakers for six months. The value of our partnership helps you get more from our conference as we use Whova Conference Hybrid Platform App.

WHAT TYPE OF PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATE AT THE FFCA CONFERENCE?

This conference is suitable for all practitioners, educators, Head Start staff, social workers, and more. This experience, developed by Fathers & Families Coalition of America, is a dynamic integrated, and engaging event built on the core competencies from professional fields such as child welfare, early childhood, marriage and family therapists, social work, criminal justice, psychologists, educators, counselors, family service workers, and fatherhood practitioners.

TIRED OF VIRTUAL EVENTS ONLY - WHAT MAKES THIS CONFERENCE ENGAGING?

The entire conference is LIVE and in real-time. We invested in several areas to ensure this will be engaging. First, we will not have any sessions taped. Second, we invested in guaranteeing the streaming component allows for you to create your program/schedule for the whole of the conference, by day, time block, and track(s) so you can attend an entire meeting vs. on-demand, taped, playback or limited workshops sessions like others are hosting around the nation/internationally. Finally, we are asking for all Faculty to join in person and or have a co-facilitator in person to ensure the optimal engagement for professionals and parents in one of the several workshop/seminar strands:

Engaging Parents In The Classroom
Fatherhood Program Curriculums and Models
Foster Care & Child Welfare
Health & Mental Health
Practitioner Engaging Parents
Research Related Working With Fathers & Families
Working With Fathers in the Justice Systems
Youth & Young Parent

Collaboration is the key to success. We are collaborating with many talented individuals to host the following roundtable sessions in real-time to enhance engagement strategies for professional and parent development.

SPECIAL ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS

Roundtable Series - Child Support Engaging Families
Roundtable Series - Child Welfare & Foster Care
Roundtable Series - Disparities in Education
Roundtable Series - Social Justice & Equity

HOW WILL FFCA KEEP THIS CONFERENCE A WELCOMING AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCE?

Partnership with Whova is making this a great experience right now! So, beyond LIVE sessions, we have a platform for all attendees to engage with speakers directly! Once you register, your email becomes your access to creating your profile and responding to speakers' live polls. Maybe you have a question that all Faculty will respond to Q&As.

FFCA will have unique networking sessions. Think of this as a time for speed networking and connecting with individuals randomly a few times a day from all over the world. We have designed a community on specific content. The example, you work for Head Start and want to connect with others in Head Start. The community forum allows you to discuss and share what works or needs to reach the next level. You can start being part of this 24th annual conference as soon as your registration is completed, and we will do our best together.

WHAT ARE SOME SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNED?

Ready for a bit of fun?

FFCA is honored to bring back some fantastic networking and fun late afternoon/evening events as follows.

Monday, April 24, after our Pre-Conference Institute Day, or perhaps you just landed at the Hilton LAX Hotel, join the Sunset Beach Tour. The outstanding tour company will bus you from the Hilton LAX hotel northbound on Pacific Coast Highway to Venice Beach to do some sightseeing and shopping and then southbound to Santa Monica Pier. The pier is the end of the iconic Route 66 and an excellent location for a sunset dinner, fun, and networking.

Paint and Poetry Night on April 25 for all registered conference attendees FREE and an open-to-the-public event! Tuesday, April 25, we invite you to a special Opening Reception hosted by the Fathers and Families Coalition of America. It is open to everyone; Paint & Poetry Night with Meet the Authors.

Wednesday, April 26, we are bringing back Dr. Ramon & Dr. Yolanda Nieves's Red Tie and Red Dress Family Affair Gala. The extraordinary stories of fathers recognized as Fathers of the Year have their roots in our 2^nd Annual Conference. FFCA is honored to bring back Couples of Excellences, where we have family members nominate couples married upwards of 73 years! Amazingly, seventy-three years is more of an opportunity to learn to overcome adversity, embrace commitment, and have humorous moments that end in devotion.

Thursday, April 27, we bring back a wonderful closing networking time. Join FFCA on a late afternoon tour to Hollywood and walk on the stars of Hollywood. Imagine three days of bumping into peers but never the time to build new relationships or memories with existing peers from various parts of the nation or internationally.

We will also build networking and fun within the conference app for those unable to join in any of these evening events.

IS THERE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDED AT THE FFCA CONFERENCE?

FFCA is an approved provider from the National Association of Social Work Arizona Chapter. We will offer CEUs for select sessions and all credential programs. Please call us to ensure your licensing board accepts CEUs, and we will give you the best conference in 2023!

FAQ's FFCA Conference

About FFCA