Pre-Conference Activity
Grandfamilies/Kinship Symposium
Hosted by Generations United
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $125, Lunch included
This session is available for registered conference attendees only.
Successful kinship/grandfamilies programs are innovative, evolving, and responsive to the diverse needs of those they serve. They understand the unique circumstances and challenges that kinship families face and are ready to help them tackle those barriers by providing relevant resources, services, and supports. They also recognize the many strengths and talents that kin caregivers have and empower them to advocate for themselves and their families, while helping their peers navigate the caregiving journey.
This dynamic symposium will elevate these key characteristics for successful kinship/grandfamily programming. Our full-day program will feature:
An opening keynote to kick off the day with inspiration and a vision for kinship care transformation.
A TED Talk-style segment, GRAND Ideas, showcasing bold, creative approaches from kinship programs leading the way in service excellence and innovation.
A panel of kinship alumni sharing their lived experiences and reflections on what supports made a lasting impact.
An interactive action planning session to help you frame next steps for applying ideas in your own community.
A networking luncheon.
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Keynote Address: Bridging personal experience in kinship care with practice and systems change
Dean Justin “Jay” Miller, Ph.D., College of Social Work, University of Kentucky
GRAND Ideas Sessions:
Disaster Recovery and Relief for Kinship Families: Learning from the Western North Carolina Experience
Marty Wilson, High Country Caregivers
Uplifting Children's Rights in Kinship Care: Bridging Advocacy to Action
Dr. Ali Caliendo, Foster Kinship
Training Kin Caregivers to Provide Peer Support Services
Lucy Peake, Kinship, United Kingdom
Leveraging the Arts to Support Kinship Caregivers and Help Them Thrive
Laurel Humble, High Museum of Art
Additional sessions:
Alumni Insights: Shaping the Future of Kinship Practice
A panel discussion with kinship alumni, moderated by Shaheed M. Morris, who was raised by his grandmother
Kickstarting Your GRAND Idea
Facilitated by Shelly Willis & Trista Mason, Family Education and Support Services
Do you have a GRAND idea of your own that you haven’t had time to bring to fruition? Are there any that you learned at the symposium that you want to try? You will have dedicated time to initiate your own action plan as you tap into the experiences and expertise of other kinship serving professionals attending from across the country (and across the pond!).
Whether you serve kinship/grandfamilies inside or outside the child welfare system, this symposium will provide you with new ideas, new kinship connections, a renewed passion for serving kin caregivers, and your own action plan to kick-start a new GRAND idea in your program.
Confirmed Speaker(s):
Opening Speaker
Dr. Justin “Jay” Miller
Dr. Miller is a nationally recognized expert whose research and leadership have influenced child welfare systems, youth justice, and self-care practices for helping professionals across the country. From local communities to federal policy, his work is shaping how systems support families.
He has been honored with the Paul Grannis Award, the Sunny Andrews Award for Outstanding Commitment to Regulatory Board Service, and the Supporting the Workforce Award from the Children’s Bureau. He is also a proud Hall of Fame inductee at Western Kentucky University’s College of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Miller’s keynote will offer powerful, practical insight rooted in lived experience—particularly for those serving kinship families outside of the formal child welfare system. With a focus on innovation, equity, and connection, this symposium is designed to inspire and equip you to take action.
