Trainings & Events
2025- 2026 Training Menu
Don’t see what you’re looking for on here? We can make trainings to order!
opportunities for schools & staff
Family Engagement Coffee Chat
Third Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Register here for the Zoom link
Family Engagement Coffee Chats are hosted in partnership with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. These monthly opportunities are a chance to connect with and learn from each other. We aim to tailor these to meet your interests and needs. Let us know what you’d like to talk about this year via this brief survey.
Family Engagement Training Menu
According to the 2025 School Climate & Connectedness Survey, only two-thirds of staff said their school provides training on partnering with families. Sample from the AFEC training menu to ensure 100% of your team has the training & support they need. Don’t see what you’re looking for on here? We can make trainings to order!
Mini-Grant
Up to $20,000 to Fuel Your Family Engagement Efforts
Alaska Family Engagement Center partner school districts are eligible for up to $20,000 in mini-grants. Funding is also available to help cover sub-pay and technology costs. Click here for more details and to apply.
Upcoming Opportunities for Staff & Families
More to come soon!
opportunities for families
Helping Our Kids Thrive This School Year
September 2025 – March 2026
Virtual Series for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers. Opportunity to have an open conversation and ask questions with others who share similar interests. Learn More Here!
Empowered Parents – Inclusive Connections (EPIC)
Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Virtual meetings on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays
Do you know families who have a child with special needs? Help connect them with a network of support for the child, siblings, and parents. In addition to trainings, Stone Soup Group offers events designed to empower families and professionals with knowledge, tools, and support to help Alaskan children with special needs thrive. Each session provides opportunities to learn, share experiences, and build meaningful connections within a caring community. We believe that strong family connections are the foundation for growth—when families come together to learn and support one another, everyone benefits. Register and get the Zoom link here.
NAMI Basics – Mental Health guidance for families of teens
Free, online, available any time
This free, six-session online education program is for parents, caregivers, and others who provide care for youth aged 22 or younger who are experiencing mental health symptoms. NAMI Basics OnDemand is guided by parents and family members with lived experience, is self-paced, and is available 24/7. Learn more and sign up here.
Transition Series: Exploring the Alaska Transition Handbook
Free, online
Over a period of six Zoom sessions, the Stone Soup Group will walk through the Transition Pathways Handbook. These sessions are especially helpful for families of middle and high school students with special needs. Register here.
Transition Series: Exploring the Alaska Transition Handbook
Free, via Zoom, Wednesdays starting Oct. 29 to Dec. 17 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Positive Indian Parenting is an eight-week curriculum developed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA). This class helps reconnect native families with traditional child-rearing practices, blending timeless cultural teachings with modern parenting challenges to nurture strong families, preserve traditions, and empower future generations. Register here!
Family Advisory Board
Friday, November 7 at 1:00 p.m.
Do you know family members who may be interested in helping guide the work of the Alaska Family Engagement Center? We’re looking for a few more Family Advisory Board members, especially those who have elementary school-aged kids and/or are fathers, grandfathers, and uncles. Thanks for nominating family members here (self-nominations are welcome!). Our next Family Advisory Board (FAB) meeting will be on Friday, October 3, at 1:00 p.m. Contact Emily Ferry for more info.
Partner opportunities
