Formed Families Forward

### Context Profile for Formed Families Forward

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - **Mission**: Formed Families Forward (FFF) is dedicated to supporting families formed through foster care, adoption, and kinship care. Their mission is to provide resources, advocacy, and community engagement to enhance the well-being of these families.
   - **Cause**: The organization focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by families formed through non-traditional means, aiming to create a supportive environment that fosters healthy family dynamics and connections.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Events**: FFF organizes events such as "A Season of Thanks, A Celebration of Families," which honors families formed through foster care and adoption.
   - **Support Groups**: They conduct in-person meetings and support groups for kinship caregivers, providing a platform for sharing experiences and resources.
   - **Workshops & Training**: FFF offers workshops and training sessions aimed at equipping families with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate their unique challenges.
   - **Advocacy**: The organization engages in advocacy efforts to promote policies that benefit families formed through adoption and foster care.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of FFF's communications is **friendly**, **supportive**, and **inspiring**. They aim to create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages engagement and community building. The language is accessible and often includes personal touches to foster connection.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - FFF incorporates emojis in their communications, particularly in event promotions (e.g., 🎉 for celebrations). The use of emojis is moderate and serves to enhance the friendly and inviting tone of their messages.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details were not available on the website, but the organization has established itself as a key resource for families in need.
   - **Scale**: FFF has a total of 9 forms and has conducted 206 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement strategy.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics were not detailed on the website, the organization emphasizes community engagement and support for families.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information regarding volunteer opportunities may be available on their website, encouraging community involvement.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use a friendly and approachable tone. Avoid overly formal language; instead, opt for conversational phrases that resonate with families.
   - **Personalization**: Incorporate personal touches, such as addressing recipients by name and acknowledging their unique experiences.
   - **Clarity**: Ensure that communications are clear and straightforward, providing essential information without overwhelming the reader.
   - **Encouragement**: Use positive language that inspires hope and encourages families to engage with the organization’s resources and events.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for crafting personalized and effective content for Formed Families Forward, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and community focus.

Early Bird Individual Parent/Caregiver

Early Bird Professional

Early Bird Child/Youth ticket (age 4 and older)

Early Bird Children under age 4

Professional Ticket

Individual Parent/Caregiver

Child/Youth ticket (age 4 and older)

Children under age 4

Volunteer

Exhibitor *Only for sponsors or by invite - email for info.*

We can&#39;t wait to see you! Formed Families Forward welcomes you to our 13th annual Spring Forward Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Family Fun Day! Our theme is From Surviving to Thriving. Foster, adoptive kinship families and family-serving professionals are invited to the 2026 Spring Forward Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 18 from 8:30 AM - 2 PM. &nbsp;Tickets include admittance to sessions, activities, and a lunch. This year, Spring Forward will be held at the Science and Technology Campus of George Mason University in Manassas. &nbsp;While parents, caregivers and professionals are enjoying sessions presented by experts in education and support of foster, adoptive and kinship families, children age 4-9 will take part in outdoor activities organized by Camp Sarraka while youth ages 10 and up will engage in GMU&#39;s outdoor experiential challenge course &quot;The EDGE&quot;. &nbsp;More information on the inclusive programming for children and teens is provided below or can be found by visiting <a fr-original-style="" href="https://edge.gmu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://edge.gmu.edu</a>. The day begins with keynote From Surviving to Thriving: Redefining Success When You Can&rsquo;t Control the Outcome&nbsp;presented by Melissa Corkum, CEO and Founder of RISE to Regulation.&nbsp; When you&rsquo;re raising or supporting kids with complex needs, traditional definitions of success can quietly lead to burnout, despair, and a sense of failure. Drawing from her experience raising six kids, brain-based insight, and her RISE framework, Melissa offers a hopeful, practical way to regain a sense of agency even when outcomes remain uncertain. You&rsquo;ll leave feeling less alone, more regulated, and better equipped to show up with connection rather than protection.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1767637573/wysiwyg/q8zlf4bdijvyzaoxadbq.jpg" style="width: 186px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; position: relative; max-width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 186px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Melissa Corkum is the CEO and founder of RISE to Regulation, as well as a sought-afterspeaker and author specializing in blocked care and the science behind how humansconnect. A TEDx speaker, co-author of Reclaim Compassion, and a certified Safe &amp; Sound Protocol and Rest &amp; Restore Protocol Practitioner, she equips audiences with practical tools for nervous system care and resilience so they experience less conflict and more laughter. Offstage, Melissa enjoys social dancing and savoring the half-popped kernels at the bottom of the popcorn bowl. Children ages 4-9 will participate in the Camp Sarraka program. &nbsp;The day will include outdoor activities and creative art projects. &nbsp; Youth ages 10-18 will enjoy a guided outdoor challenge course at The EDGE including a tower climb! Please note that appropriate tickets must be purchased in advance for all children and youth participating in Spring Forward. Listed Spring Forward prices include snacks and lunch and are SIGNIFICANTLY DISCOUNTED from the regular EDGE fees of $35 to $45. &nbsp; FREE childcare provided on-site for children aged 3 and under. &nbsp;(No charge, however please register your young child by choosing the appropriate ticket.)&nbsp; Thanks to generous donors, scholarships will cover the refund of registration fees for any attending child or youth. Families need to pay for child/youth registrations now and they will be reimbursed when they attend the event. Businesses and Community partners: We welcome SPONSORSHIPS! There are a variety of options to promote your brand or products. Limited exhibit tables are also available during the event. Click <a fr-original-style="" href="https://bit.ly/FFFSF26sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more information on our Underwriting and Event Sponsor opportunities. Contact <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:Stacia.Stribling@formedfamiliesforward.org" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;">Stacia.Stribling@formedfamiliesforward.org</a> for more information on exhibits and sponsorships.

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{lastname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">Last name, Thank you for registering for Spring Forward: Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Family Fun Day! We look forward to seeing you... 📭   at 10900 University Blvd, Manassas, VA 20110, USA⌚   On <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{date-variable-0356b94f-eb33-4168-bd85-8bab3551bdfa}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">Date As we get closer to the event, updates and additional pertinent information will be sent via email. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Stacia Stribling. Best. Stacia Striblingstacia.stribling@formedfamiliesforward.org7035392904

We can't wait to see you! Formed Families Forward welcomes you to our 13th annual Spring Forward Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Family Fun Day! Our theme is From Surviving to Thriving. Foster, adoptive kinship families and family-serving professionals are invited to the 2026 Spring Forward Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 18 from 8:30 AM - 2 PM.  Tickets include admittance to sessions, activities, and a lunch. This year, Spring Forward will be held at the Science and Technology Campus of George Mason University in Manassas.  While parents, caregivers and professionals are enjoying sessions presented by experts in education and support of foster, adoptive and kinship families, children age 4-9 will take part in outdoor activities organized by Camp Sarraka while youth ages 10 and up will engage in GMU's outdoor experiential challenge course "The EDGE".  More information on the inclusive programming for children and teens is provided below or can be found by visiting <a href="https://edge.gmu.edu" target="_blank">https://edge.gmu.edu</a>. The day begins with keynote From Surviving to Thriving: Redefining Success When You Can’t Control the Outcome presented by Melissa Corkum, CEO and Founder of RISE to Regulation.  When you’re raising or supporting kids with complex needs, traditional definitions of success can quietly lead to burnout, despair, and a sense of failure. Drawing from her experience raising six kids, brain-based insight, and her RISE framework, Melissa offers a hopeful, practical way to regain a sense of agency even when outcomes remain uncertain. You’ll leave feeling less alone, more regulated, and better equipped to show up with connection rather than protection.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1767637573/wysiwyg/q8zlf4bdijvyzaoxadbq.jpg" style="width:186px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" />Melissa Corkum is the CEO and founder of RISE to Regulation, as well as a sought-afterspeaker and author specializing in blocked care and the science behind how humansconnect. A TEDx speaker, co-author of Reclaim Compassion, and a certified Safe &amp; Sound Protocol and Rest &amp; Restore Protocol Practitioner, she equips audiences with practical tools for nervous system care and resilience so they experience less conflict and more laughter. Offstage, Melissa enjoys social dancing and savoring the half-popped kernels at the bottom of the popcorn bowl. Children ages 4-9 will participate in the Camp Sarraka program.  The day will include outdoor activities and creative art projects.   Youth ages 10-18 will enjoy a guided outdoor challenge course at The EDGE including a tower climb! Please note that appropriate tickets must be purchased in advance for all children and youth participating in Spring Forward. Listed Spring Forward prices include snacks and lunch and are SIGNIFICANTLY DISCOUNTED from the regular EDGE fees of $35 to $45.   FREE childcare provided on-site for children aged 3 and under.  (No charge, however please register your young child by choosing the appropriate ticket.)  Thanks to generous donors, scholarships will cover the refund of registration fees for any attending child or youth. Families need to pay for child/youth registrations now and they will be reimbursed when they attend the event. Businesses and Community partners: We welcome SPONSORSHIPS! There are a variety of options to promote your brand or products. Limited exhibit tables are also available during the event. Click <a href="https://bit.ly/FFFSF26sponsors" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more information on our Underwriting and Event Sponsor opportunities. Contact <a href="mailto:Stacia.Stribling@formedfamiliesforward.org">Stacia.Stribling@formedfamiliesforward.org</a> for more information on exhibits and sponsorships.

Formed Families Forward

2026 Spring Forward Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Family Fun Day

10900 University Blvd

Early Bird Individual Parent/Caregiver

$10

Early Bird Professional

$10

Early Bird Child/Youth ticket (age 4 and older)

$18

Early Bird Children under age 4

Free

Professional Ticket

$15

Individual Parent/Caregiver

$15

Child/Youth ticket (age 4 and older)

$25

Children under age 4

Free

Volunteer

Free

Exhibitor Only for sponsors or by invite - email for info.

Free