One year ago, when members of the Alliance for Children and Families met in Baltimore for the Alliance National Conference, it was during a time of uncertainty. The length and depth of the recession was on everyone’s minds. An historical presidential election was a week away.
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| Clockwise from left: Elizabeth Carey, Alliance for Children and Families; Debbie Reed, Chaddock; Margaret Vimont, Jewish Child & Family Services |
The following year was not expected to be pleasant, and indeed 2009 has not been. It is fitting, therefore, that the theme of the 2009 Alliance National Conference spoke to strategies for surviving the challenges members have faced since they last convened. Yet, the theme also speaks to some of members’ best attributes: caring, courage, and collaborations.
“Your caring and compassionate work continues,” said Peter Goldberg, Alliance president and CEO, during his welcome address. “Moreover, throughout the long history of our field, you have evolved with courage to effectively respond to more complex, multifaceted issues facing children, families, older adults, and communities today.”
A total of 322 staff from organizations across the country convened Oct. 14-16 in Houston to learn, network, develop new skills, and participate in enriching dialogues and activities.
“Regardless of the economy, I would always attend the Alliance annual conference,” says Rich Frank, president and CEO of Alliance member Berea Children’s Home and Family Services, Berea, Ohio. “I always come home having learned something that will help me do a better job running my organization. It is also especially reaffirming to meet with colleagues during these difficult times.”
Nearly 40 diverse workshops offered members the opportunity to learn, share, and network around issues and ideas in governance, human resources, innovative programs, leadership, management, marketing and communications, public policy, and resource development.
The 2009 event was book-ended by several value-added pre- and post-conference events. FEI Behavioral Health, an Alliance sister organization, offered a training for crisis responders; the Alliance’s New Age of Aging Leadership Advisory Committee and New Age of Aging Program Planning Committee held their meetings on site; and special receptions were held for graduates of the Alliance’s Executive Leadership Institute, members new to the Alliance network, and members from organizations with complex governance structures.
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