Plan Your Experience!

The full agenda is out! Download it now and explore all the options. From 5-minute engaging Ignite talks to 3-hour in-depth Institutes -- and many options in between -- the 2025 Training Institutes is full of engaging, participatory learning opportunities. We can't wait to see you there!

Start each conference day the way you like it -- early morning harbor walk or yummy breakfast treats (or both) -- and join your colleagues to network and learn!

Bookmark and check this page frequently as we unroll more conference events! If you want to hear all about them in your inbox, make sure to register for Training Institutes emails!

 

Monday, July 7 from 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Feature Film Screening & Discussion

Kick off your conference experience July 7 with an exclusive screening of award-winning IndieFlix Original Documentary LIKE—a film exploring the impact of social media on our lives, minds, and relationships. Through compelling stories and expert insights, LIKE reveals how social media is designed to be addictive and the real-world effects this has on mental health, self-worth, and human connection—especially for young people and their families. This timely film is eye-opening and inspiring, sparking important conversations about how we can take control of technology rather than letting it control us.

Following the screening, we are privileged to welcome LIKE director Scilla Andreen for a panel discussion. Andreen, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Impactful CEO, will share her insights on making the film and engage in a dynamic dialogue with members of NAMI and NAMI Next Gen about the implications of social media for children's mental health.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience a transformative film and connect with its visionary creator. More than just a screening—it’s a conversation that could change the way you think about the digital world. Watch the trailer and register today!

East of the River Steelband

Tuesday, July 8, Opening Plenary

Let the Rhythm Move You!

The East of the River Steelband (EOTRS)—Washington D.C.’s premier youth steelband—has been providing music education and training to children who live east of the Anacostia River since 1993. Over the years, the program has provided music training and arts and cultural education to hundreds of children and youth through its core steel pan and youth development programs. EOTRS will deliver a high-energy set that includes Future is Now, featuring youth band members alongside special guests W. Ellington Felton and Kenny Allen. Join us in National Harbor to experience the power of rhythm, resilience, and youth-led inspiration!

Murthy_Vivek

Tuesday, July 8, 8:30 AM, Opening Plenary

Belong & Thrive: In Conversation with Dr. Vivek Murthy & Youth-Serving Leaders

Vivek Murthy—one of the world's leading authorities on health and author of the New York Times bestselling book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World—will join us for the 2025 Training Institutes opening plenary fireside chat. Dr. Murthy's landmark initiatives as the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States have spurred vital public dialogue on mental health—particularly the youth mental health crisis—as well as the intersection of technology and health, and the epidemics of loneliness and isolation. He will be joined onstage by Kim R. Ford, CEO of Girl Scouts Nation's Capitol; Dr. Christine Crawford, Associate Medical Director of NAMI; Isabel Ohakamma and Grace Wankelman, both of NAMI NextGen.

Together this panel of distinguished thought leaders will engage in discussion exploring how fostering belonging can transform systems, promote resilience, and support thriving communities. Don't miss this powerful session that will kick off the 2025 Training Institutes and set the tone for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration!

Wednesday, July 9, 12:00 p.m., Lunch & Plenary

 

Sheila A. Pires Award for Leadership in Child- and Family-Serving Systems

Join us to celebrate the awardee for this inaugural award in honor of Sheila A. Pires.

Connect & Thrive: Insights & Inspiration from Sesame Workshop

Join  Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, for an insightful discussion of research-based strategies to prepare today’s children and youth to live full, happy lives  --- or — to lay the foundation for emotional wellbeing among children and youth. Dr. Betancourt directs philanthropically funded social impact initiatives designed to reach children, families, and providers influencing young children's development and resilience. She brings decades of experience designing initiatives that foster resilience, inclusion, and lifelong well-being for children and families. Her insights will be a powerful addition to the 2025 Training Institutes!

Innovate & Thrive: Opportunities with Health AI & Technology Leaders

Thursday, July 10, Morning Plenary

Innovate & Thrive: Opportunities with Health AI & Technology Leaders

Leave the 2025 Training Institutes inspired and ready to tackle the challenges ahead! You won’t want to miss this closing plenary, which highlights various cross-sector AI and technology solutions designed to address today’s challenges in effectively serving youth and their families. Join us to learn what innovative actions stakeholders are taking to support youth and family health

Kana Enomoto, Director of Brain Health at the McKinsey Health Institute, will kick off the plenary with a keynote exploring how artificial intelligence can serve as a powerful ally to frontline care professionals. As AI rapidly reshapes the world of work, the human service sector stands at a unique crossroads—where innovation meets empathy.

She will then be joined onstage by a panel of health technology leaders who will focus on the issues of uptake and inclusion of AI/other technologies to support and enhance our workforce. The panel will include Hafeezah Muhammad, CEO and Founder of Backpack Healthcare; Dr. Amy Nitza, Director of the Global Center for AI in Mental Health, University of Albany; and Dr. Kamillah Wood, Clinical Specialist, Health Optimization, Google Health. Drawing on real-world examples and emerging research, this session will highlight how AI is being used to reduce burnout, improve outcomes, and enable professionals to focus more on what matters most: human connection. Attendees will gain insights into practical tools already transforming practice, ethical considerations to guide responsible integration, and strategies for future-ready workforce development.