Children and Family Futures

10/21/2026

"Everybody gave up on me." — Aimee's own words.

A child welfare worker and family mentor showed up and told her something no one else had: "We have a team. We're going to help you get through this."

Today, Aimee shares an office with the person who helped save her life. She's gone from a parent in crisis to a START caseworker herself.

START is a cross-system model supported by Children and Family Futures (CFF) that brings child welfare and substance use treatment together around families before removal becomes the answer.

🎥 Watch her story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzD0haVYdbw
👉Visit to learn more: https://www.cffutures.org/start/

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10/20/2026

Is your court applying for FY26 family treatment court funding?

At Children and Family Futures (CFF), our National Family Treatment Court Team has worked with collaboratives in 39 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Our Research & Evaluation team helps FTCs measure progress and show results.

We can work with your team to:
• Plan and launch a new FTC, or strengthen an existing one
• Train your judge, coordinator, and treatment partners
• Build a logic model and track the performance data your team will report on

A consultation is the easiest place to start. We’ll learn about your community or state, talk through what fits, and map out how we’d work alongside your team.
Start registration by Oct 16. Applications are due Nov 16 on Grants.gov and Nov 23 in JustGrants.

Schedule a consultation before you start writing: https://airtable.com/appt7JA9HCGhKfjPw/pag7cXcGYbaEFMPQh/form?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ftc-funding-2026&utm_content=ftc-fy26funding

10/19/2026

The programs keeping children safe and families together rely on more than dedication. They run on sustainable funding. And funding follows evidence.

Children and Family Futures' Research & Evaluation has worked with 70 sites across 28 states to build the evaluation infrastructure that connects their work to the investment it needs. A program that can't show its outcomes can't grow. And a program that can't grow can't reach the next family that needs it.

Ready to talk about your program's evaluation needs? Schedule a consultation with our team: https://www.cffutures.org/research-and-evaluation/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=systems-stories&utm_content=ret-70sitesoct2026

10/16/2026

"I really appreciated bringing the focus back to families and the participant’s children." — Past Statewide FTC Foundations Training Participant

Training shouldn't be about passive learning. It should drive measurable, state-level change.

When states contract our FTC Foundations Training, local collaborative teams work directly on their operational structures, phase designs, and behavior response protocols. Every participating team leaves with a customized action plan ready for immediate ex*****on.

Whether delivered as a single in-person or virtual event, or through a series of sessions, we tailor the format to fit your state’s schedule.

If your teams could use this, fill out this form and we'll follow up: https://airtable.com/appt7JA9HCGhKfjPw/pag7cXcGYbaEFMPQh/form?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=systems-change&utm_content=ftc-foundationsimpactoct2026

10/15/2026

Helping youth affected by parental substance use, mental health challenges, and child welfare involvement requires practical, actionable tools. Join us for a free, 30-minute webinar to discover a ready-to-use resource designed to build resilience and guide young people through life’s toughest experiences.

Webinar Highlights:
- Resource Overview: Learn how to use the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) guide: “Stronger Than You Know: Tools for Navigating Life’s Challenges.”
- Targeted Care: Strengthen your capacity to recognize and respond to the unique needs of vulnerable youth.
- Practical Application: Explore dynamic tools—including financial and transitional-age resources—and see how to apply them through a real-world case example.
Immediate Takeaway: Leave the session with a resource you can begin using with youth right away.

Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
- Time: 11:00 – 11:30 AM PT / 2:00 – 2:30 PM ET
- Duration: 30 Minutes
- Ideal Audience: Child welfare professionals, substance use & mental health providers, educators, mentors, court partners, and anyone helping youth and families.

👉 Save your spot today: https://cffutures-net.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ShhDwQwNSEOIsEL8E6qzYQ #/registration

10/15/2026

Applying for FY26 juvenile drug treatment court funding and still deciding who to bring in as a training or evaluation partner?

Children and Family Futures (CFF) has worked with collaboratives in 39 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Our Research & Evaluation team helps courts measure progress and show results.

We can work with your team to:
• Plan and launch a new JDTC, or strengthen an existing one
• Train your judge, coordinator, and treatment partners
• Build practical tools for engaging families in youth recovery
• Create a logic model and track the data you’ll report on

Applications are due Oct 29 on Grants.gov and Nov 5 in JustGrants, so the window is short.

A consultation is a quick way to start. We’ll learn about your community or state and talk through what fits. Schedule one here: https://airtable.com/appt7JA9HCGhKfjPw/pag7cXcGYbaEFMPQh/form?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ftc-funding-2026&utm_content=ftc-fy26funding

10/15/2026

🌟 Strengthening Practice, Building Connections, and Leaving a Legacy 🌟

Over two engaging days, the Oswego START team came together to learn, collaborate, and strengthen their practice in supporting families affected by parental substance use disorder. Through meaningful discussions, skill-building activities, and shared reflection, the team explored ways to strengthen their effectiveness while staying grounded in the core values of the START model.

A highlight of the visit was the opportunity for team members to identify their personal intentions by creating inspirational rocks with words that reflect the values and strengths they bring to their work each day. The team also created a beautiful Legacy Quilt, symbolizing their collective commitment, connection, and the lasting difference they make in the lives of children and families.

These activities served as powerful reminders that when we invest in learning, support one another, and stay connected to our purpose, we create a strong foundation for lasting change.

📸 Check out the photos of the team's inspirational intention rocks and Legacy Quilt in the comments below!

10/14/2026

💡 How do you navigate sensitive conversations about parental substance use with youth?

Child welfare and family-serving professionals often meet young people at critical, highly vulnerable moments. Yet, many lack practical, developmentally appropriate tools to guide conversations about substance use, recovery, and mental health.

Join the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) for a free 30-minute webinar to introduce our newest resource: “Connecting With Youth: A Toolkit for Child Welfare Professionals Supporting Families Affected by Substance Use.”
In just half an hour, you’ll:
✅ Explore practical conversation strategies you can implement immediately in your daily practice.
✅ Learn to engage youth more effectively to strengthen service planning and inter-agency coordination.
✅ Walk away with at least one actionable step to build stronger rapport and trust right away.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PT / 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
📍 Format: 30-Minute Live Webinar

Who Should Attend?
Child welfare caseworkers, substance use treatment providers, mental health professionals, court personnel, and youth partners who work alongside families affected by substance use. Equip yourself with ready-to-use resources to make every conversation count.

👉 Secure your spot today: https://cffutures-net.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GVQtWVraTw6xwRKWxHP0Og #/registration

10/12/2026

When a program loses funding, it's not just a program that loses, it’s the communities and families who depend on it. Support gets interrupted. Progress gets interrupted. And it can happen not because the program wasn't working, but because its impact wasn’t always easy to see.

That's how Children and Family Futures Research & Evaluation Team help’s programs prove their impact and keep resources flowing to the families and communities that need them.

CFF Research & Evaluation works alongside programs to measure outcomes, tell their story with data, and make the case to the funders and policymakers who decide what gets sustained. 👈

Learn more and download our free checklist: https://www.cffutures.org/research-and-evaluation/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=field-education&utm_content=ret-provingimpactoct2026