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A Conversation with Dr. Alan Ellis

Center for Family and Community Engagement

Jul 10, 2026

CFACE Retreat: Reflecting on Time Spent Together & Moving Forward

At the end of June, the Center had the opportunity to come together for our bi-annual team retreat to reflect on the first half of the year and look forward to what’s to come. Everyone traveled to Wilmington, North Carolina to spend time creating training activities, reconnecting with each other, and thinking about the future.…

Jan 7, 2026

Trainers’ Lessons from 2025 and Excitement for 2026

Behind every training session, meaningful conversation and shared success are the people who make it happen. Our trainers spent 2025 navigating challenges, celebrating milestones and learning lessons that shaped the way they support trainees and collaborate with teammates. Looking ahead to 2026, our trainers are full of energy and ideas, sharing what excites them most…

Dec 22, 2025

Reflecting on 2025: CFACE’s Key Moments

As 2025 begins to wind down, the Family-Centered Practice Project (FCPP) training team at the Center for Family and Community Engagement (CFACE) is taking a moment to reflect on a year defined by growth, resilience and collaboration. This past year brought new partnerships, major curriculum updates, statewide travel and an expanded team stepping confidently into…
A family spending time outdoors on a winter day, reflecting the slower rhythm and emotional challenges that come with shorter daylight.

Dec 15, 2025

Winter Slows Us Down: Tips for Families During Shorter Days

As the days grow shorter and winter settles in, many families start to feel the season’s slower rhythm. With less natural light, our internal clocks can get thrown off, affecting energy, focus and mood. Northwestern Medicine has a helpful infographic that breaks down how shorter days influence the brain and body in a clear, easy-to-understand…
Gina, a grandmother and kinship caregiver, sitting with her two grandsons, smiling together and showing a strong family bond.

Dec 8, 2025

Caregiving After Loss: Gina’s Journey

Gina, a proud grandmother of two, grew up in a small, isolated community in Colorado where family and neighbors relied on one another. She says she grew up feeling it was essential to take care of people you loved and to be taken care of by people who love you. That lesson became the foundation…
Community donation display featuring winter coats, hats and scarves neatly arranged next to a collection box labeled ‘Wolfpack Winter Coat and Clothing Drive,’ alongside a Toys for Tots donation bin filled with new, unwrapped toys. Festive winter decorations surround the area, emphasizing holiday giving and community support.

Dec 1, 2025

Winter Giving: Bring Warmth and Joy to the Community

Winter is here and the holiday season is approaching. Many of us are fortunate to gather with friends and family during this time of the year. However, for some individuals in our community, the holiday season can be challenging and stressful. This provides an opportunity for the Wolfpack community to lend a hand and bring…
Training session, reflecting the collaboration, gratitude and shared purpose that drive their work in supporting child welfare professionals across North Carolina.

Nov 24, 2025

Reflections of Gratitude: Voices from North Carolina’s Child Welfare Trainers

As the year draws to a close, many take time to reflect on what they’re grateful for in both their personal and professional lives. At the Center for Family and Community Engagement, gratitude plays an important role in strengthening the relationships and resilience that drive child welfare work forward. Gratitude is found in moments of…
A grandfather and caregiver, sits with his granddaughter as they learn together, reflecting their close bond and shared growth.

Nov 17, 2025

Learning Together: Clifton’s Story of Kinship Care

Clifton is a recently widowed and the full-time caregiver of his 13-year-old granddaughter. He became her full-time caregiver when she was removed from her mother’s home at just six years old. When faced with the choice between her having to enter foster care or becoming her caregiver, he didn’t hesitate to step in. “She’s my…
Graphic promoting the 2025 Pantry Bowl, NC State’s annual fundraising competition with UNC to support campus food pantries. Includes dates November 3–30 and encourages donations to Feed the Pack at NC State to fight student food insecurity.

Nov 3, 2025

Help Tackle Food Insecurity: Join the 2025 Pantry Bowl This November

The fifth annual Pantry Bowl is back this November, and the NC State community is invited to take part in this spirited campaign to support student well-being and fight food insecurity on campus! Running from November 3 to November 30, the Pantry Bowl is a friendly fundraising competition between NC State’s Feed the Pack Food…

Oct 27, 2025

A Conversation with Dr. Alan Ellis

Looking to gain insight into social work education from a university perspective, CFACE spoke with Dr. Alan Ellis, Interim Head of NC State’s School of Social Work, which offers Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs.