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 | Launching October 2026

Behind every strong organization is a team of senior leaders helping navigate complexity, lead people, solve problems, strengthen culture, and shape what comes next.

FFTA’s new Senior Leadership Collaborative (SLC) is a peer leadership and networking experience designed for senior leaders within FFTA Member organizations. The collaborative combines in-person connection at the FFTA Leadership Summit with ongoing virtual peer conversations and leadership engagement throughout the year. If you’re leading programs, operations, strategy, clinical services, workforce initiatives, finance, fundraising, or regional teams, this collaborative may be for you.

Connect with peers. Share insight. Explore emerging challenges. Invest in your leadership journey while strengthening your impact within your organization and community.

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.