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For decades, the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families has empowered families navigating the complexities of child welfare and adoption, providing resources and connections to help them thrive. This November, through our program, the Wisconsin Family Connections Center (WIFCC), we’re bringing that mission to life at Healing Centered Families (HCF) 2026 — a free, day-long conference for adoptive, kinship, and permanent guardianship families, families who have reunified, and foster families on the path to permanency.
HCF 2026 takes place Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. It’s a day built around a simple idea: families navigating complexities don’t have to do it alone. Attendees will spend the day learning from experts in the field, connecting with other caregivers who understand the journey, and exploring a resource room stocked with tools to take home.
The day opens with keynote speaker Anna Bernacki — an adoptee, adoptive mother, and the owner of Parenting Different — presenting The Parent You Never Expected to Become: Finding Connection, Confidence, and Yourself in the Middle of the Journey. Drawing on both her lived experience and her professional work across the adoption triad, Anna’s keynote sets the tone for a day rooted in honesty, empathy, and hope.
From there, attendees can choose from expert-led breakout sessions covering the topics families ask about most:
- Eric Szatkowski, a retired Wisconsin DOJ Special Agent with nearly 25 years of experience protecting children online, on keeping kids safe in a digital world
- Melanie Kretschmer of Family Voices of Wisconsin, on building advocacy and support networks
- Linda Hall, Director of the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, on the resources available to support a child’s — and a family’s — wellness
- Jonathan Mietchen, PhD, a pediatric neuropsychologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, on helping stressed kids find focus and calm
HCF 2026 is completely free to attend, with breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided throughout the day. This is an adults-only event, so please arrange childcare in advance.
Registration is free and open now — please note that registration closes Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Register for Healing Centered Families 2026 → Questions about the conference can be directed to the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at 1-800-762-8063 or info@wifamilyconnectionscenter.org.
The Coalition empowers families navigating the complexities of child welfare and adoption, providing resources and connections to help them thrive — and days like this one are where that mission comes to life. We hope to see you there.