Healing Through Connection: Returning to St. John’s in 2026
The first Child and Youth Care World Conference took place in St. John’s in 2013, bringing together practitioners from around the globe under the theme Connecting at the Crossroads. Hosted by the Child and Youth Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador with CYC‑Net, it emphasized connection across geography, disciplines, generations, and practice.
June 24 – 26, 2026
St. John’s Convention Centre / St. John’s, NL
Join us in St. John’s — Healing through Connection awaits.
In June 2026, the conference returns to its original home with a new theme: Healing through Connection. This gathering builds on the spirit of 2013 while deepening our focus on relationships — with our history, with one another, and with the young people and families we support.
The updated conference logo reflects this evolution, incorporating CYC‑Net’s colours and expanding the word cloud to include the 25 characteristics of relational child and youth care practice.
The 2013 event united child and youth care workers, social workers, foster parents, educators, therapists, researchers, and leaders across child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice. It sparked new relationships, energized practice, and inspired a global community.
In 2026, we’re ready to reconnect and build on that momentum.
