Champions for Youth Summit

Bringing together prevention leaders to learn, connect, and inspire healthier futures for young people

Thank you for joining us at CFY26. Stay connected for future Summit updates, resources, and conversations.

Keep the Conversation Going

The Champions for Youth Podcast brings together prevention leaders, experts and changemakers working to improve the health and well-being of young people. Explore practical insights, emerging trends and ideas you can put into action in your community.

Champions for Youth Podcast

The Champions for Youth Podcast brings together trailblazers in youth advocacy, education, and public health at the forefront of creating impactful change as they reveal their motivations to take action and strategies that make a difference in their communities.

Join us for inspirational bi-monthly conversations to empower any youth-facing professional with actionable insights for combatting health behavior challenges youth face in communities every day.

What does it take to support healthy development for young people as technology becomes more embedded in schools and everyday life?

In this episode, we explore the science behind children’s screen and smartphone use, the growing movement toward phone-free schools, and the role parents are playing in shaping school technology policies. We also discuss school-issued devices, social media, AI chatbots, and why more families are reconsidering when and how young people should use these tools.

Keena McAvoy of Smartphone Free Childhood US shares how parent education, community partnerships, and advocacy are shifting how schools think about technology — and how families and youth-serving professionals can create more space for reading, writing, play, and meaningful human connection.

Follow Champions for Youth on social to stay connected between episodes and explore resources shared by youth-serving leaders nationwide.

Have feedback or a topic you’d like us to cover? Submit your ideas at vfhy.org/podcast — we’d love to hear from you.

Rethinking Tech in Schools: Empowering Parents with Science to Advocate for Change with Keena McAvoy of Smartphone Free Childhood US

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Rethinking Tech in Schools: Empowering Parents with Science to Advocate for Change with Keena McAvoy of Smartphone Free Childhood US

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Learn. Connect.Inspire Change.

This dynamic event brings together hundreds of professionals from across the country who are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of youth and young adults.

Strengthen Youth Health Across Communities

Explore innovative strategies and best practices addressing critical issues such as tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, childhood obesity, and other intersecting youth health challenges.

Looking Back at CFY26

For three days, Champions for Youth brought together passionate professionals committed to helping young people thrive. Through inspiring speakers, practical learning, and meaningful connection, attendees shared ideas and explored strategies to strengthen prevention and youth well-being across Virginia and beyond.

420+

Attendees

Days of learning

Sessions

Speakers

CFY26 Featured Speakers

Learn from industry leaders and youth development experts

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Be the First to Know What’s Next

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Who the Summit Is For

Champions for Youth is designed for professionals working with and for young people.

Educators

Teachers, administrators, and education professionals

Nonprofit Leaders

Directors and staff of youth-serving organizations

Social Workers

Mental health and social service professionals

Policymakers

Government officials and community leaders

Thank You to Our CFY26 Sponsors

Supporting our mission to empower youth across the nation

Champion

Visionary

Partner

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Food Recovery Partner

We're proud to partner with Food Recovery Network.

Together, we will redirect surplus food from the Summit to local organizations that feed people experiencing hunger.

Food Recovery Network is the largest student-led movement recovering surplus food and ending hunger in the U.S., uniting 8,000+ college students, food suppliers, farmers, and local businesses across the U.S. in the fight against climate change and hunger.

24M

pounds of food recovered

20M

meals donated

350

partners serving local communities