The second annual Healing Together Conference is Feb. 15-17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Mesa, 1011 W. Holmes Avenue in Mesa.

It will be hosted by the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association, based in Mesa, and will be joined by the Native Wellness Institute from Gresham, Oregon; White Bison from Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Native Dad’s Network from Sacramento, California, according to a release.

“This special conference will share an exemplary level of Indigenous programming of learning and healing assisting all Native communities,” the release states.

“Last year’s first conference was unlike any other, with the power of these four astounding organizations coming together from the Southwest. This year, we will safely gather and collaborate with the same four organizations to discuss: suicide prevention, the impact of Indigenous mentors protecting ancestral cultural teachings, restoring family unity and many other topics and approaches,” it states. “The combined professional experiences and skills as well as the use of Indigenous culture as a prevention, intervention and treatment to fill the void in education and services in wellness is a powerful and appropriate response to communities worldwide.”

Keynote speakers include, Al Pooley from NAFFA, Kateri Coyhis from White Bison, Mike Duncan from Native Dad’s Network, Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins from Native Wellness Institute.

NAFFA began in 2002 with one father and the mission of bringing men back to strengthening their families after witnessing too many families being torn apart. Since then, the Arizona nonprofit has strengthened relationships and families through four curricula:

• Fatherhood Is Sacred/Motherhood Is Sacred;
• Linking Generations by Strengthening Relationships;
• Addressing Family Violence & Abuse; and
• Suicide Prevention.

All NAFFA curricula use time-honored cultural principles and practices as a foundation to build strong families that are resilient to divorce, domestic and substance abuse, suicide and human trafficking. The result of these programs has been an increased awareness of the sacred purposes of families with strengthened relationships and communities. With no direct federal funding, NAFFA has more than 60,000 parents enrolled in local chapters and 2,000 facilitators have been certified to teach the FIS/MIS curriculum across the U.S., the release states.

For more information on the Health Together Conference, go to nativeamericanfathers.org/2023healingtogether or call 480-833-5007.

The Native American Fatherhood and Families Association is at 525 W. Southern Ave. Suite No. 100 in Mesa.