When:	April 10, 2026 – April 11, 2026
Where: Accommodations:	Cross Insurance Center 515 Main Street, Bangor, ME 04401 Directions https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1761164708611&key=GRP&app=resvlink&dtt=true&_branch_match_id=1517859256811391989&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTywo0MtNLCrKzC8p0UvOz9UvSi3OyczLtgdK2ALZZSCOWkpJiW1JUWmqWmaKraG5maGhmYm5gQWQVstOrbR1DwpQqytKTUsFGpOXHp9UlF9enFpk65xRlJ%2BbCgCWU9P1aQAAAA%3D%3D *Resource families! By booking through this link, $50.00 of your room fee will be paid by AFFM! *Book before 3/13/26!
Register:	Coming Soon!
Cost:	Resource Family: Professional: *Limited scholarships are available for kinship and adoptive families *Licensed resource families are eligible for scholarships Confirmation of scholarship will be sent the week before the event

About the Event

AFFM conferences provide training designed specifically for families and professionals looking for unique and advanced learning opportunities. It is also an opportunity to network with families and other providers from across the state.

Speakers

Keynotes

Jim Harris, Ed.D., MSW
Dr. Jim Harris is the Director of Marshall University’s Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work. He is also the founder of Opportunities Consulting Services. Dr. Harris brings a diverse background in health and human services, having served as an early interventionist, parent educator, educational consultant, university instructor, and behavioral health therapist.
A TEDx speaker whose talk was selected as an Editor’s Choice video, Dr. Harris has delivered presentations at conferences ranging from local gatherings to international venues on topics such as behavioral intervention, parenting, positive behavior support, trauma-informed practices, and organizational change. Dr. Harris has partnered with both public and private organizations, including the Fred Rogers Company, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Known for his practical and engaging approach to complex topics, Dr. Harris helps audiences better understand human behavior—both their own and that of the people they support.

Watch Dr. Harris’s TEDx talk here!  https://youtu.be/5EPxwJwUPs4?si=5B1DnR0PdVPUR-TE

Justin Black, Author, Speaker, and Serial Entrepreneur
Justin Black is an author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur dedicated to fostering healing and growth in communities. He studied public relations and African studies with a focus on urban development and global perspectives in countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, and South Korea. Alongside his wife, Alexis, he co-authored the award-winning, bestselling book Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love, which has reached over 40,000 people. Through their company, Redefining Normal, they lead conversations on healthy relationships, mental health, and community transformation through speaking, trainings, and workshops.

Watch Justin’s TEDx talk here! youtube.com/watch?v=rZNBEtKl9tM&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

Workshops by:

Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT)
LC Coppola, LMHC, M.Ed.
Catherine Cutler Institute
Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine
Heather Bowie, AFFM
Bette Hoxie, AFFM

VENDORS

Coming Soon!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND