This year’s CAFO2026 Summit in Atlanta introduces new opportunities to begin learning and connecting even before the opening general session. A limited series of Bonus Sessions, along with two pre-Summit events — Sim Lab and Global Collaborate 2026 — invite participants to arrive early and make the most of their time together.
CAFO Summit is an annual three-day conference that serves as a global hub of connection and action on behalf of vulnerable children and families, strengthening leaders, advocates, pastors and parents from around the world.
Bonus Sessions: Focused learning before Summit begins
New for CAFO2026, Bonus Sessions will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 1–2:15 pm and can be added to any Summit registration for just $15. These sessions offer focused teaching from trusted voices in the community on topics shaping ministry today.
Participants can choose from a variety of sessions exploring spiritual formation, leadership, family life and organizational health, including:
- Risk Joy: Using Poetry in Healing, Grief and Lament with Vernon Burger
- Don’t Let the Mission Divide the Marriage with Beth and Todd Guckenberger
- The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope with Curt Thompson, MD
- Hope in the Hard for Foster and Adoptive Parents with Jamie Finn
- Formation-Driven Engagement for Sustainable Impact with Jason Johnson
- Measuring What Matters with Jedd Schroy
- AI as Your Force Multiplier with Greg Buzek
- From Hamster Wheel to Flywheel: Building Sustainable Fundraising Momentum with Mike Duerksen
A special Soul Pause gathering with the CAFO worship team will also be offered free of charge, providing space for worship and guided soul care as participants prepare for the days ahead.
Because these sessions are intentionally small, advance registration is required and space is limited. Register for CAFO2026 here and select bonus sessions under “Additional Add-ons.”
Collaborate: Strengthening global networks worldwide
Leaders serving globally are invited to Global Collaborate: Live from Atlanta, taking place Sept. 22–23 ahead of CAFO2026. This gathering highlights practical strategies that help churches, NGOs and advocates work together effectively in global communities.
Participants will hear stories from peer leaders, explore collaborative practices and discuss strategies that can be applied within their own contexts.
Sim Lab: Experiencing the journey toward family care
Another pre-Summit opportunity, Sim Lab, offers an interactive experience designed especially for leaders serving children globally. Through a guided simulation based on a fictional case study, participants will walk through the process of transitioning from residential to family-based care.
Sim Lab equips leaders with practical tools and shared learning to help guide real transitions in their own programs.
Come Early and Ease In
The theme for CAFO2026, “Less. Fewer branches, Better fruit,” invites the community to focus energy and attention on what matters most. These new pre-Summit opportunities are designed to help participants begin that work early — learning together, strengthening one another and preparing for the days ahead.
Register before April 15 and save during Early Registration! Learn more and register today at cafo2026.org.
