National Family Support Networking Planning Group
Charting a Path for the Future

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the National Family Support Networking Planning Group. In recognition of the growing role of networks in the family support movement, on October 30, 2009, 72 leaders in the field of family support from all over the country met in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss their interest in and/or need for a national networking/coordinating body for family support networks.

The focus of this meeting was to:

• Scan the Family Support environment, focus on the key work that networks (local, regional, national) are doing to build and hold the field together.
• Understand the successes and challenges of networks.
• Determine the need for, role and design principles of a national networking/ coordinating body.
• Decide next steps.

Thanks again for joining our National Family Support Yahoo group. We have included in the Files section of this group the following documents in Word format from the October 30, 2009 proceedings for your review and feedback:

• Forum minutes
• Network design ideas
• Excitement and challenges with a National Network
• Network design ideas
• Panelists thoughts on networks
• Forum evaluation and comments
• Next steps and parking lot issues
• Sign up list to participate in ongoing planning

Please post your thoughts and ideas to this page and respond to others postings as they relate to National Family Support Networking Planning as a specific topic to this group. We will keep you abreast of new information and opportunities to participate in future developments.

This is your opportunity to work with other leaders in the field to reach the next milestone of the Family Support movement in this country.

Yours truly,

National Family Support Networking Planning Group