Family Voices Leadership Conference: Call for Proposals

Session Topics

We are seeking proposals for sessions that will help attendees reach and serve families, youth, and professionals working to improve systems that serve families or operate an effective family-serving organization.

We are particularly seeking session proposals that: 

• Address the needs of family leaders and patient advisors who participate on Boards and councils in the health care system
• Prepare and support parents and youth/young adults to participate at decision-making tables
• Build the capacity of youth family leaders to operate effective family-run, family-serving organizations
• Focus on family quality of life and well-being and health equity

Session Requirements

• Session proposals must include a family or youth partner as a co-presenter.
• Sessions will be live 60-minute Zoom presentations, with 50 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
• Each session will include Spanish interpretation.
• Due to interpretation logistics, sessions may not include breakout groups.
• All session materials (slides and handouts) must be submitted in English and Spanish.
• Slide presentations must use the provided presentation template.
• Each session can have up to four presenters.
• All speakers will be required to register for the conference.

Submission Timeline

• Session proposals due: December 19, 2025
• Notifications of proposal acceptance: January 24, 2026
• Slide decks and handouts due: February 27, 2026

Submitting Your Proposal

• To submit a proposal, you will be prompted to register an account with Vfairs. Once you have registered, you may return and log in to edit drafts or submit additional proposals.
• Click the "Add abstract" button to get started.
• Add all presenters, including yourself, as "Authors" in Step 2 and fill in the required information.
• Continue to Step 3 to provide information about your proposal.
• Save your work and return to complete your submission at any time before the submission deadline.
• You will receive a confirmation email upon submitting your proposal.
• Sign in to see your submissions, or see all proposals ("abstracts") that you have been added to as an author by clicking your name and "Switch profile". If you don't see the "Add abstract" option after signing in, use "Switch profile" to return to your Submitter profile to add or edit your proposals.
• For help with how to use the submission platform, please contact support@vfairs.com. For other questions about your proposal, contact fvlc2026@familyvoices.org

Scoring Criteria

• Relevance: The subject is timely and relevant to the conference, theme, and community, and is likely to engage conference attendees.
• Abstract Content: Content is specific to the presenting topic, demonstrates sound science or promising practice, and serves to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, or competence of conference attendees. Content must be objective, free from bias and promotion, and not promote commercial entities, products, or brand names.
• Originality: Material provides new insights or approaches to solving problems that are novel or innovative; the body of work advances knowledge or program development.
• Learning Outcome: Notes at least two measurable objectives that reflect what an attendee will be able to do or take away after attending the session.
• Quality of Written Abstract: The abstract is coherent and clearly states the purpose or relevance to the conference's field.

Visit familyvoices.vfairs.com/abstract to submit a proposal.