Advancing Kinship Care Through Leadership

Erica Burgess has spent more than six years helping families stay together.

She served as the project leader for the Kinship Therapeutic Foster Care (KTFC) program, a project run by FFTA in North Carolina.

Under Erica's leadership with the KTFC project:

• More than 100 families learned how to become licensed kinship caregivers and received training and support to care for children who are relatives.

• Over 50 families finished the training program.

• More than 40 families became fully licensed to care for their young relatives.

• 50 families received about $2,700 each to help pay for things they needed, like food, clothes, and school supplies.

This project also helped change the system in North Carolina. Before KTFC, only 22% of children in foster care were placed with family members. By the end of the project, that number grew to about 31%. More kids were then given the opportunity to grow up with individuals they knew and loved.

The children in KTFC homes did not have to move to a new home while in the program. There were no trips to the emergency room, no arrests, and children remained stable in school, which ultimately built stronger bonds with their families.

Erica did not just help in North Carolina. She also supported FFTA's work across the country. She helped lead the Kinship Committee, facilitated webinars, presented at conferences, and brought people together for shared learning experiences. And nearly 80 leaders attended six training groups she helped organize.

Because of Erica's work, FFTA is now taking KTFC from a small pilot project to something bigger. The goal is to help even more families across the country, and Erica showed that when we help children stay with family members who love them, it positively affects their overall well-being. That’s kinship care!

Thank you Erica for your heart and hard work, for the good of families.

FFTA Board of Directors 2026 Call for Nominations

Help Shape the Future of Human Services

Nominations Due by August 21, 2026

An Opportunity to Lead 

FFTA is now accepting nominations for four to six Board of Director positions, for terms beginning January 2027. We are seeking thoughtful, collaborative leaders from across the FFTA Community who are passionate about strengthening organizations that support children, families, and communities. 

The strongest organizations are guided by leaders who are willing to look beyond today, embrace new ideas, and work together to strengthen the future. If that sounds like you—or someone you know—we invite you to make a nomination for the FFTA Board of Directors. 

About FFTA 

FFTA is a trusted source of connection, education and advocacy for organizations serving the well-being of families. We partner with child welfare, mental health, and other human service organizations to amplify their impact by: 

• Connecting members to share knowledge and solutions, creating a stronger, more united community of support. 

• Equipping members with continuing education, best practices, purposeful convenings, and other resources so they are prepared to meet the needs of those they serve. 

• Advocating for effective policies at the national and state levels that strengthen families and communities. 

Why Serve on the FFTA Board?

Serving on the FFTA Board is an opportunity to help shape the future of one of the leading human service associations. Through that leadership, Board members help strengthen the work of hundreds of organizations serving thousands of families and communities across the United States and beyond. Directors provide strategic leadership, help guide the direction of FFTA, strengthen partnerships, support innovation, and serve as ambassadors for the FFTA Community. 

Board service is both meaningful and rewarding. While Board members make a meaningful commitment of time and engagement, they also gain invaluable opportunities to collaborate with respected leaders, broaden their perspectives, and help influence the future of the human services field. 

Who Should Consider Serving? 

As FFTA continues to grow and evolve, we are committed to building a Board that reflects the breadth of our community. To complement the strengths of our current Board, we are especially interested in nominees who bring experience or perspectives in areas such as public human services, emerging technologies, fundraising, community mental health, and other areas that can help FFTA continue growing and innovating. These are examples of perspectives that would strengthen the Board—not requirements for service. Every nomination is considered based on the unique experiences, leadership, and contributions each individual brings. 

Board Service at a Glance 

• Three-year term, with eligibility to serve up to two consecutive terms. 

• Nominees should be employed by or closely affiliated (such as a board member, volunteer, or individual with lived experience receiving services) with an FFTA member organization. 

• Board responsibilities and expectations are available for review as part of the nomination materials. 

How to Make a Nomination 

To complete a nomination, please:  

• Review the FFTA Board Responsibilities & Expectations.  

• Complete the Nominee Questionnaire

• Upload a current professional resume (as part of the Nominee Questionnaire).  

• Upload a Letter of Recommendation from a Colleague (as part of the Nominee Questionnaire) .  

• Upload a completed Letter of Organizational Commitment(as part of the Nominee Questionnaire). 

• Following submission, eligible nominees should anticipate one to two conversations with current FFTA Board members as part of the nomination process. Nominees are expected to be notified of their election status by November 13, 2026. 

If you're ready to help strengthen organizations that strengthen families—and build more communities where those who support families feel supported—we encourage you to nominate yourself or a colleague by August 21, 2026.

If you have questions about the nomination process, please direct questions to: fftaboard@ffta.org.

Connections Count

Strong Connections, Effective Partnerships

Cornerstones of Care, a long-standing FFTA member organization, is a trauma-informed mental and behavioral health nonprofit providing evidence based prevention, intervention, treatment, and support services that help children and families achieve improved safety, stability, and well-being. Serving children and families across Missouri, Kansas, and beyond, the organization’s mission is to partner for safe and healthy communities, with a steadfast commitment to keeping children safe and families together.

Hundreds of miles away in Alberta, Canada, fellow FFTA Member organization McMan Youth, Family, and Community Services Association shares a similar commitment to helping children, youth, and families achieve their full potential through a wide range of community-based services. With the core values of Commitment, Trust, Empathy, Respect, and Genuineness at its core, McMan has been an intentionally impactful not-for-profit social service agency for the last four decades.

The mission of both organizations was recently demonstrated in a way that underscores the importance of strong connections, effective partnerships, and the role FFTA plays in supporting both.

Shelia Rancatore, Executive Director of Missouri Programs and Services at Cornerstones of Care and a member of the FFTA Board of Directors, received an inquiry from a state partner seeking connections to a social service agency in Canada. Several Missouri youth in foster care had a parent residing in Alberta, Canada, but navigating the process and identifying appropriate resources to complete a home study was presenting challenges.

Although Rancatore did not have direct contacts with Canadian agencies, she reached out to FFTA staff for assistance. FFTA Managing Director, Eric Giovanni, promptly responded, facilitating a direct email connection with leadership at McMan. Within two business days, the necessary partners were scheduling a virtual meeting to exchange information and determine the best path forward. “This experience demonstrates the power of relationships—and how FFTA membership transforms collaboration from an idea into meaningful action,” Rancatore shared.

Moments like these reflect FFTA’s mission of being the trusted resource, advocate, and connector that advances wellness for all families and communities. We connect our members to share knowledge and solutions, creating a stronger, more united community of support. And it is an honor to be a part of moments like this, where we can make a difference together.

FFTA's Senior Leadership Collaborative: Leadership Through Connection

Inaugural Cohort Launches October 27-28, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV

Strong organizations are built by strong leadership teams. Across every organization are senior leaders who help navigate complexity, lead people, strengthen culture, solve challenges, and shape what comes next. The FFTA Senior Leadership Collaborative (SLC) was created to invest in those leaders. 

The SLC is a cohort-based leadership experience designed specifically for senior leaders within FFTA Member organizations. Through peer connection, facilitated discussion, and shared learning, participants will build trusted relationships while exploring today's most pressing leadership and organizational challenges. 

To foster meaningful relationships, rich discussion, and lasting peer connections, the inaugural cohort will be limited to just 25 participants.

The collaborative officially launches during the FFTA Leadership Summit in October 2026, where participants will engage in two collaborative experiences designed to establish relationships, introduce the year's facilitators, and build the foundation for the year ahead. Following the Summit, the cohort will continue through eight virtual sessions over the next 12 months, with additional optional opportunities to connect at select FFTA events. Topics will be shaped by the interests and priorities of the cohort while incorporating timely leadership insights and facilitated conversations focused on the issues senior leaders are navigating today—and preparing for tomorrow. 

The collaborative is intended for leaders with significant organizational, operational, strategic, programmatic, clinical, financial, administrative, or regional leadership responsibility. Because leadership structures vary widely across organizations, participation is not defined by job title alone. Rather, the collaborative is designed for leaders who help shape organizational direction, lead major functions or initiatives, supervise leaders or significant teams, and serve as key thought partners in advancing their organization's mission and impact. 

Whether you're preparing to become a future CEO, to take on another leadership role, or simply looking to strengthen your leadership in the role you serve today, the collaborative is designed to help you grow your influence, expand your perspective, and increase your impact. 

To express interest in being part of the inaugural Senior Leadership Collaborative, please complete this interest form. We'll be in touch with additional details as the inaugural cohort takes shape. Participants must be registered for and attend the FFTA Leadership Summit, where the collaborative officially begins. 

Celebration of the FFTA 2026 Public Policy Institute

Driving Policy in Action for the Good of Families

A few weeks ago, more than 100 attendees from 27 states, 1 district, and 60+ organizations gathered in Washington, DC for the FFTA 2026 Public Policy Institute (PPI). Throughout the 2-day event, we witnessed providers, lived experts, federal partners, state leaders, housing partners, and community organizations come together around one shared goal: strengthening children, families, and communities. 

The incredible response to this year's sold-out event speaks to the importance of the critical issues and important conversations surrounding prevention, kinship and family support, older youth, and the future of child and family serving systems. We heard directly from federal agencies, congressional offices, national partners, and community leaders about both the challenges ahead and the opportunities in front of us. We spent time highlighting innovative partnerships, housing initiatives, workforce development efforts, and community driven solutions happening across the country right now. We were honored to welcome Armenia’s  Ambassador to the United States, Narek Mkrtchyan, whose country is working toward many of the same goals.

FFTA was also proud to partner with the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Collaborative, helping further conversations around housing stability, older youth supports, and community driven solutions that create stronger pathways into adulthood for young people. TAY sent 20 attendees and participated throughout the week, including the lived experts panel and networking reception.

One of the most memorable moments came during the last day attendees were on Capitol Hill. Many received passes to sit in the House gallery and watch debate take place in real time as the Fostering the Future Act passed the House floor. Seeing six Chafee reform bills come together into one piece of legislation while our attendees were in Washington was a powerful reminder that relationships, persistence, and lived experience continue to shape meaningful progress.

Progress happens when people are willing to come together, listen, share openly, and continue building toward what is possible. Thank you to everyone who traveled, presented, shared your expertise, and represented your communities throughout the event. 

While this year's Public Policy Institute has concluded, the work of advancing FFTA’s 2026 Public Policy Priorities, continues at FFTA’s Annual Conference and throughout the rest of the year.