Five Years of Seamless: More Than a Conference, It’s a Community
June 23, 2026
By Jami Bolton
NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes
Five years ago, we had an idea.
What if there was a conference created specifically for mental health clinicians working within Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)? A place where clinicians could learn from leading experts, earn continuing education credits, and connect with others doing this incredibly important, and often challenging, work. Not just another training, but a deeper dive into some more unique, and needed topics.
There was just one catch. It was 2021, and the conference would be entirely virtual. At the time, virtual conferences were everywhere. Most involved long days of staring at a screen, wondering if anyone else was still paying attention, and trying to decide whether it was acceptable to answer emails during presentations. We knew if Seamless was going to work, it would have to be different. Five years later, we’re proud to say it is.
What started as a virtual conference has grown into a national community of clinicians from Alaska to Puerto Rico who show up each year ready to learn, laugh, connect, and strengthen the care they provide to children and families.
Learning from the Best
Over the years, Seamless has welcomed some truly remarkable speakers and leaders in the field.
Experts like Esther Deblinger, one of the developers of TF-CBT, Sally Z, motivational speaker, Carrie Epstein, co-developer of CFTSI, Kristina Coleman, Vice President of Programs at Safe Horizon, and the Honorable Judge Linneweber, 13th Judicial District Court, Department 4, Yellowstone County have shared their expertise, challenged our thinking, and provided practical tools clinicians can take directly back to their work.
From evidence-based trauma treatment and caregiver engagement to courtroom testimony, ethics, and emerging issues facing children and families, Seamless has always focused on one question: “What do clinicians actually need to know to do this work well?” Because while research matters, so does real-world practice.
The goal has never been to provide information for information’s sake. It’s to help clinicians leave with knowledge they can use the very next day.
More Than a Screen
Every year, our team asks the same question:
How can we make this year’s conference more engaging than the last? If it was up to us, we would mail everyone a cake, matching t-shirts, and balloons to enjoy during the conference, but that’s not entirely feasible (maybe one day!) Instead, we try to come up with new ways for interaction. Sometimes it means sharing photos and stories from clinicians across the country. Sometimes it means live raffles and giveaways.
And sometimes it means the Zoom chat. If you’ve attended Seamless before, you know. The Zoom chat has developed a personality all its own over the years. It’s become a place where clinicians share resources, celebrate one another, offer encouragement, exchange ideas, and, perhaps most importantly, keep the jokes flowing.
For a virtual conference, there is an awful lot of laughter. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Building Community Across the Country
The feedback we’ve heard over the last five years has been remarkably consistent. Yes, attendees appreciate the affordable registration, practical topics, and continuing education credits. But what they talk about most is the sense of connection.
Mental health clinicians working in CACs often find themselves as the only clinician in their center, county, or even region. It can feel isolating.
Seamless creates a space where clinicians can connect with others who understand the unique challenges of this work – people navigating similar clinical questions, supporting similar families, and carrying similar responsibilities.
Year after year, we see familiar names return. We also welcome first-time attendees who quickly become part of the conversation. What starts as a conference often turns into something more: a reminder that none of us are doing this work alone.
Looking Ahead to Year Five
As we prepare for the 5th Annual Seamless Conference on September 16–17, 2026, we’re excited to continue building on what has made this event special from the beginning.
We’ll bring together expert presenters, practical clinical content, interactive discussions, continuing education opportunities, and yes, probably a few questionable jokes in the Zoom chat. Most importantly, we’ll bring together a community of clinicians dedicated to helping children heal. Because at the end of the day, that’s what Seamless has always been about. Not just learning. Not just earning CEs.
But creating a space where clinicians can grow, connect, and leave feeling better equipped, and a little less alone, in the important work they do every day.
We hope you’ll join us! And don’t forget to bring your smile for our annual group photo, it’s tradition!
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Learn how to strengthen your clinical practice and respond to the challenges you’re seeing every day at the 5th annual Seamless virtual conference for mental health professionals serving children and families through Children’s Advocacy Centers. Join us September 16-17, 2026 for two days of practical, evidence-based learning designed to help you better support healing and recovery, and earn up to 11 continuing education (CE) credits along the way.
Registration is now open, with early bird pricing at just $249 for NCA members through July 31. Secure your spot and explore the full agenda today.
The NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes is focused on strengthening the workforce that addresses child trauma. Offering meaningful, measurable value to children, families, clinicians, and the constellation of professionals that assist kids after abuse, the Institute delivers holistic mental health training that’s evidence-based and affordable for Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)-connected professionals.
Lastly, click this link to be directed to the NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes Training Calendar for our learning opportunities.
Jami Bolton is the NCA Institute For Better Mental Health Outcomes Training Specialist. She supports the Institute by organizing trainings and assisting clinicians and CAC members. Former Director of Training for New York’s State Chapter, she values quality education for CAC professionals.
