Confabs

Confab: From the Spanish “confabular”—converse, conspire, plot.
1. To confabulate, to talk easily together, to chat. 2. To tell stories. 3. To league, to enter into conspiracy.

Strengthening Families Illinois confabs focus on parent leaders becoming knowledgeable and effective communicators of the vision and mission of Strengthening Families Illinois. The quarterly confab provides parent leaders with the opportunity to network with each other and talk about how they’re keeping their own families and communities strong.

In addition to being a social gathering for parent leaders to engage in easy, informal, conversation centered on the protective factors, the confab is also about listening to and valuing parent voices, which is essential in keeping SFI relevant, vibrant, and family-centered.

At previous confabs, parents helped create Café Talk: The Game that Gets to the Heart of Family. Parent leaders also asked for and got message training to help them to speak about SFI in their own communities. As a result, parent leaders have developed their own presentation to deliver in communities. At another confab, parents co-wrote You’re Welcome: Parent Leaders Speak Out on What It Takes to Promote Real Parent Engagement, available in English and Spanish.

Upcoming Confabs:

• Southern Region Parent Leader Confab - Saturday, June 2, 2012, 9:00 - 4:00 pm - Coles Creek Campground, 16225 Coles Creek Rd., Carlyle, IL 62231(Southern Region) - Registration Information Coming Soon
• Dads Confab - Saturday, June 9, 2012, 10:00 - 5:00 pm The Ark of St. Sabina, 7800 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60620
• Family Reunion for Former Youth in Care - Saturday, June 23, 2012, 8:30 am - 7:00 pm - University of Chicago School of Social Service Admininstration, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637 -

To get involved in our next confab, contact us.