NAMI Illinois Statewide Conference
October 23-24, 2026
The NAMI Illinois State Conference highlighted the importance of strengthening workforce capacity, elevating youth and family voice, and building stronger connections across systems of care. Conversations with mental health professionals, advocates, educators, and community partners reinforced that while trauma-informed care remains essential, providers also need the knowledge and skills to address the unique experiences of children, youth, and families impacted by adoption, foster care, guardianship, and kinship care. A particularly powerful takeaway came from a session led by youth leaders from NAMI Next Gen Minds and NAMI On Campus, who challenged attendees to move beyond listening to youth perspectives and toward authentic partnership and shared decision-making. Their message reflected the conference theme, Bridging Gaps by Reimagining Community Care, and underscored the value of family-centered, lived-experience-informed approaches that strengthen mental health services, workforce readiness, and cross-system collaboration. These insights continue to inform the National Center’s work to support providers, organizations, and systems in delivering adoption-competent, responsive care for children and families.
Conference Materials & Handouts:
Click below to download PDFs
- Adoption Competency: A Brief Introduction
- Holistic Strategies for Addressing Complex Needs
- Hope and Healing in Adoption Competent Care
- NCACMHS Overview
- National Center Video
- The National Center and Cross-system Collaboration
Related resources from The Knowledge Hub:
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