The Children's Trust celebrated the 26th A View from All Sides conference on Monday, November 5, 2018. Over the past 25 years nearly 15,000 family support professionals have participated in our conferences. This year we were honored to have Dr. Junlei Li PhD., Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as our keynote speaker. His keynote, "Finding the Deep and Simple in Serving Children and Families," touched upon the need to understand and address a complex system of challenges and opportunities, in order to best serve children and families who face adversity, and the power behind seemingly simple human interactions.

This premier family support professional conference hosted over 40 informative workshops, with topics ranging from the impact of fathers on the social emotional competence of children, to the nicotine epidemic facing our youth today. Attendees were provided access to the community resource fair and opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with colleagues in their field.

During the luncheon award ceremony, we honored exceptional members within the family support community. Kenny Coy was awarded the Parent Recognition Award for his work and dedication to the Healthy Families program, and in raising his twin boys. Kaylan Look was also awarded the Parent Recognition Award for all of the hard work she has put in to be the best mother she can be to her daughter, regardless of all of the struggles and roadblocks life has put in her way, and for advocating car seat safety to keep all children safe. 

Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane and his team accepted the Emerging Leader Award for the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office, and Ann Marie Teuber was given the Frances Litman Leadership award, for being fierce advocates for families.

The Children's Trust thanks all that attended for making it a spectacular event filled with brilliant minds and caring hearts, and hope that they can join us again next year.

View more photos from the event here and feel free to share them on social media with the hashtag #View2018.