Happy New Year to our Academy of Forensic Nursing community! Welcome to our new and continuing members. This year, we welcome Kimberly Kasper as our new president-elect, and Victor Petreca and Andrea Sebastian to our Board of Directors. We extend our thanks to Natalie Calow and Rachel Lapp for continuing as Directors and to those who let their names stand for the election. We sadly say goodbye to Deb Holbrook as past president, who has served in many roles on the Executive Committee and Board and weathered many changes. Her leadership and support have been deeply appreciated and will be missed.

As we enter 2026, AFN remains steadfast in our commitment to providing world-class, evidence-based support for forensic practice. We are excited to share our robust lineup of educational opportunities and strategic initiatives for the year ahead.

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice

This year, we are proud to offer a diverse range of learning platforms designed to fit your professional needs:

• Conferences: We offer in-person conferences annually and have two planned for this year (Indianapolis in July and Tucson in September). We will also host our International Virtual Conference November 5–6, 2026. Watch the AFN website for more details.

• Wednesday Webinars: Twice-monthly live sessions, which remain free for AFN members.

• AFN Intensives: We present a series of deeper-dive sessions into specialized forensic topics throughout the year.

• Journal of the Academy of Forensic Nursing (JAFN): Members continue to receive three digital issues per year (spring, late summer, and fall/winter). This journal is free, peer-reviewed, and open-access, featuring the latest research and clinical practices.

Shaping Our Future Together

2026 marks a pivotal year as we develop a new Strategic Plan. To ensure AFN evolves alongside your needs, we require your input. If you have ideas for new activities or opportunities, please reach out to any member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee. We will also be launching a comprehensive member survey in the coming months to gather broader feedback on how we can better serve you. 

Strength Through Collegiality

The forensic nursing landscape has recently faced dramatic shifts in organizational structures, funding, and legislation. We recognize that these changes have created a period of turbulence and anxiety within our community, and sometimes conflict.

Now more than ever, we must lead with compassion. AFN encourages all forensic practitioners—members and non-members, nurses and multidisciplinary partners—to support one another with positivity and respect. Regardless of which organizations we belong to, we strive to create a supportive environment for everyone involved in this vital work. We are truly stronger when we stand together with a shared goal—improving outcomes for those affected by violence. 

We wish you a happy, healthy, and productive 2026. Whether through research, education, or advocacy, AFN is here to support you every step of the way.

Cathy (CJ) Carter-Snell

AFN President

PhD, RN, SANE-A, DF-AFN