Addressing Funding Uncertainty: Updated Session 

Given the rapidly changing political landscape and uncertainty surrounding federal funding for youth services, NSPN has made a strategic adjustment to the Focus 2025 schedule to ensure space for what matters most right now: processing what’s happening, protecting what’s needed, and planning for what’s next.

The pressure on youth-serving organizations is growing—and it’s more than financial. It’s emotional, it’s operational, and it’s deeply personal for those doing the work. That’s why NSPN has expanded capacity—despite nearing registration limits—and enhanced its Focused Discussion session to ensure youth-serving organizations have the space, structure, and support needed to face this moment as a network, together. 

From Fear to Focus—Turning Disruption into Direction

In a time marked by shifting government priorities and increasing funding unpredictability, fear is a natural response—but it shouldn’t be the final word. This session invites attendees into a supportive space to process the emotional and professional impacts of the current funding climate. Through guided reflection and collaborative discussion, participants will have the opportunity to share concerns, identify core fears, and explore what it means to move from anxiety to action.

Attendees will engage in solution-oriented breakout conversations centered around what the network can do together to remain resilient, innovative, and impactful—even in times of uncertainty. The goal is not just to identify what’s hard—it’s to reconnect with purpose, explore new possibilities, and define what’s next. Together, participants will define shared values, reframe challenges, and generate practical next steps to protect and sustain youth services in the years ahead.

Organizations attending Focus 2025 will walk away with:

• Collective insight into what’s happening in the field

• Strategies to respond to disruption with purpose and flexibility

• A stronger sense of community and direction

• A chance to align with others facing the same pressures

Now is the time to show up, speak up, and stand together. This session is not just timely—it’s essential.