Thanks for visiting the Virtual Help Desk. We’re here to help you navigate the 2021 NCFR Virtual Annual Conference. For assistance, email us at [email protected].

Essential Resources

Attendee Instructions  Conference Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the conference only virtual this year or will there be an in-person event?

  Due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic on meeting safely in person, NCFR will only present a virtual conference in 2021.

• Will hard copies of the conference program be sent out?

  The conference program is available online in both printable and interactive formats. We are unable to mail copies this year.

• Can I still register? How?

  Yes – Click here to register. After completing your registration, you’ll receive an email with instructions about how to participate in the conference. Be sure to check your junk mail for the email.

  NOTE: If registering when the Conference Help Desk is open, there will be about a 30-minute delay between when you receive your email instructions and when you will be able to access the conference. If you register when the Conference Help Desk is closed, your access will be available about 30 minutes after the Conference Help Desk opens.

• I have already registered. When and how will I get information about how to access the conference sessions?

  Beginning Monday, October 25 registered attendees can log in the the 2021 NCFR Conference at bit.ly/ncfr2021app
  Access to some sessions, such as Section meetings and Focus Group meetings, can be found in the discussion groups for that group. For invite-only meetings and committee meetings, check with the meeting organizer for the meeting link.

• What time zone is everything happening?

  Central Standard Time (CST). Note: Whova will switch automatically to your local time when you log in based on your computer's location.

• What’s the difference between Whova and Zoom? I don’t know which one I should be using.

  WHOVA is the online conference platform where attendees can find the Conference Agenda as well as many other tools to network with other attendees. ZOOM is tool we are using to have interactive meetings. Attendees will find all the ZOOM links for the academic meetings and many of the receptions by navigating to the session in the agenda on WHOVA. The ZOOM links for some sessions, such as Section meetings and Focus Group meetings, will not be on the agenda but can be found in the discussion groups for that group. For invite-only meetings and committee meetings, the ZOOM links will be sent to the participants by the meeting organizer.

• I am a presenter and don't know how to find my ZOOM room.

  Navigate to the session using the agenda in WHOVA at bit.ly/ncfr2021app and click the ZOOM link to join the meeting.

• Is there a preferred internet browser for Whova?

  Chrome is the recommended browser.

• Whova keeps crashing on me. How do I fix this?

  Ensure you have the latest version of the browser you’re using or try a different browser. Chrome is the recommended browser.

• I am not finding the Exhibits – where are they?

  We do not have exhibits this year.

• I can’t hear anything.

  Try changing your speaker by clicking the up arrow next to the Mute button and selecting a different speaker. If that doesn’t solve the issue, you can select “Switch to Phone Audio” and call in with your phone. You may want to test your audio and video by joining a test call.

• No one can hear me talking and it doesn’t look like I am muted.

  Try changing your microphone by clicking the up arrow next to the Mute button and selecting a different microphone. If that doesn’t solve the issue, you can select “Switch to Phone Audio” and call in with your phone. You may want to test your audio and video by joining a test call.

• I am presenting and my video keeps freezing and stalling.

  Try turning off your video and continue presenting with audio only. Alternatively, try changing your camera by clicking the up arrow next to the Video button and selecting a different camera.

• What is the refund policy on the conference?

  The deadline to submit a refund request was Oct. 11, 2021. In the event that NCFR must cancel an annual conference, registrants will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in postponement of the conference, NCFR has the right to either issue a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at a new date.

• I can’t figure out how to re-set my password in Whova – Help!

  Click “forgot password?” (underneath where you would type your password to log in to WHOVA) and you will receive an email with a unique link allowing you to reset your password. Be sure to check your Junk/Spam folders for the email.

• I got kicked out of session in Zoom – how do I get back in?

  Navigate back to the session on the conference platform and try rejoining the live stream. If that doesn’t work, contact the helpdesk.

• How many CEs are available for this year’s conference?

  NCFR is an approved provider of continuing education for NBCC, the National Board for Certified Counselors (ACEP #5984). The 2021 conference is approved for up to 76 NBCC credit hours. Most U.S. states accept NBCC credit for licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists. For information on specific state requirements, please consult your state’s licensing board.

  Verification of Conference Attendance of up to 106 credit hours is available to conference attendees. NOTE: Only 76 of those credit hours are NBCC approved.

  This option is available to Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs) and others who desire verification of their attendance at conference sessions for their own records; NCFR does not require CFLEs to submit CE verification.

• Which sessions are approved for CEs/Conference Attendance Verification?

  "A list of all the sessions approved for Continuing Education/Conference Attendance Verfication can be found here. NOTE: Sessions not listed on this table, such as Poster sessions and receptions, are not approved for CEs/Conference Attendance Verification."

• How do I submit my Continuing Education hours and get my certificate?

  For the 2021 NCFR conference, to receive CE hours, you must complete the online form indicating each session you attended and pay the $25 fee ($50 for nonmembers). The form is located here and will be active when the conference begins: https://www.ncfr.org/form/conference-ce-verification.

  Anyone with an NCFR ID# can access and complete the form but a verification certificate will be sent ONLY if required fee is paid. If you did not pay for CE/Attendance Verification when registering, you can add it to your registration by logging into your account and clicking View/Edit under your Events section. If you would like to add CE/Attendance Verification AFTER the conference is over, please email [email protected].

  Verification certificates will be sent by 12/31/2021 for all forms completed by 11/30/2021. Verification certificates for forms submitted after 11/30/2021 will be sent by the end of the month following the month the form was submitted. For example, certificates will be sent by January 31, 2022, for any forms submitted by December 31, 2021. Certificates will be sent by February 28, 2022, for any forms submitted by January 31, 2022 and so on; the last date to submit a form for the 2021 Conference is October 31, 2022.

• I didn't purchase the CE/Conference Attendance Verification when I registered. Can I still do that?

  Yes. If you did not pay for CE/Attendance Verification when registering, before and during the conference you can add it to your registration by logging into your account and clicking View/Edit under your Events section. If you would like to add CE/Attendance Verification AFTER the conference is over, please email [email protected].

• Can I get CEs for sessions I listen to later?

  Yes, but only one CE/Attendance Verification certificate will be issued so please view/participate in all sessions you intend to receive credit for before submitting the form.

• How can I find the recording of a session after the session is over?

  Navigate to the session page in the agenda. If the recording is available, it will be at the top of the session page. It may take up to 48 hours after a session has concluded before the recording will be available. Please note: not all sessions (such as the poster sessions as well as the section meetings and focus groups) will be recorded.

• Will the recorded sessions be available after the conference has concluded?

  Yes, recordings of sessions will be available to registered attendees for 12 months following the conference.

• Can I participate in more than one session at a time? If so, how?

  Attendees can only participate in one live session at a time. It’s possible for attendees to browse the platform while participating in a live session.

• Which sessions can I attend? Which can't I attend?

  Most sessions about research or professional skills topics are open to all attendees. Also open to all are the President's Reception, Newcomers Welcome, University Reception, Awards Ceremony, the Memorial Service, and sessions sponsored by the Students and New Professionals (SNP) group.

  Sessions not open to all include committee and business meetings, the Legacy Circle Reception (open only to 25+ year NCFR members), and the CFLE Reception (open only to those who currently have the CFLE credential).

  All current NCFR members are invited to attend the Annual Member Meeting (Friday, Oct 29 @ 4 pm/#21)

  To participate in TCRM Workshop sessions, you must have included it in your conference registration even though it is free this year. To see if you are registered, log in at https://my.ncfr.org and look under your Events section. If it's not listed there, click View/Edit to add.

• Some sessions are listed as Invited Presenter Symposium – who can attend those?

  Invited Presenter Symposiums are open to all conference attendees registered for the day the symposia or workshop occur. The term “invited” signifies that the presenters were “invited” to do the presentation.

• Are there sessions specifically for students?

  Yes. NCFR's Students and New Professionals (SNP) group plans several conference sessions geared toward students at all different levels. Look for sessions marked SNP in the program and in the App under Sections and Interest Areas.

• Are there any sessions specifically for new conference attendees?

  Yes. The Newcomers Welcome (Tuesday, Nov 2 from 4 – 5 pm/#132) is a social and informational event for 1st-year attendees that provides a primer about the conference and NCFR, offers a chance to chat with representatives from NCFR's members groups (sections, focus groups, affiliate councils), and allows new attendees to meet each other. See more information for first-time attendees here.

• When NCFR met in person in previous years, there was an opportunity for one-on-one interviews. Is that possible this year? If so, how?

  Attendees can connect with one another through WHOVA to self-arrange a date/time, setting up their own virtual meeting space for interviews.

• How do I report an incident that may have violated the NCFR Code of Conduct?

  The Code of Conduct can be found here: https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/code-of-conduct and the online reporting form can be found here: https://www.ncfr.org/form/code-of-conduct-incident-report. Please review the code and then complete and submit the form with as much detail as possible.

• Can anyone attend the Awards Ceremony? If so, how?

  All conference attendees as well as family members and friends of recipients are welcome to attend the Awards Ceremony. If you are not registered for the conference, send an email to [email protected] to request the ZOOM link to the Awards Ceremony.

• What are Meet-ups?

  Meet-ups are a way to socialize with other conference attendees. To find Meet-ups or to start a Meet-up, click on Community tab on the left under the Main Navigation then search for Meet-ups. Find more here: https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/attendee-instructions#community

• What are the Community Boards?

  The community feature allows you to start or join existing conversations with fellow attendees or to organize a meet up with specific colleagues. Reconnect with your old friends or make new ones! Find more here: https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/attendee-instructions#community

• Are the posts on the Community Boards private? If not, where can I have a private conversation with another conference attendee?

  The Community Board posts are not private. To start a private chat with a conference attendee, click the Attendees tab on the left under the Main Navigation then search (search box is in upper right) for the person you want to chat with then click Say Hi to begin a chat. Find more here: https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/attendee-instructions#community

• I am so lost with all this WHOVA stuff -- is there a quick tutorial somewhere to get the lay of the land?

  Yes! We have detailed instructions here about WHOVA: https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/attendee-instructions#whova

• Where are guidelines for presenters?

  https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-2021/presenter-resources

• What's the difference between Q&A and Chat in WHOVA?

  Using a session's Q&A, an attendee can ask the presenter a question before, during, and after the session. The presenter can answer them in the order they choose. The chat is for more of a back and forth discussion during the session.

• Are there prizes this year? If so, how do I get entered for them?

  Yes! Attendees who attend and engage at the Newcomers Welcome (Session 132/Tuesday, Nov 2 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm) will be automatically entered for the chance to win one of these prizes: a year's membership to NCFR or registration to the NCFR 2022 Conference, or a webinar, or a $50 AMEX gift card.

  Everyone who attends and engages at the Univeristy Receptions (Session 347/Thursday from 7:30 - 9:00 pm) is automatically entered for the chance to win one of these prizes: a year's free membership to NCFR or registration to the NCFR 2022 Conference or a 3-night stay at the 2022 conference hotel in Minneapolis, MN.

  New this year: prizes will be awarded to the top 10 active participants on the WHOVA leaderboard.

• Do any sessions have captioning?

  Yes, live, on-screen captioning will be provided at the three plenary sessions (212, 311, and 411) and eight additional sessions (202, 213, 214, 225, 324, 400, 401, 413).

  ZOOM also allows participants to turn on captioning during a session in the main room but not in breakout rooms. At the bottom of the ZOOM screen in the main room, click Live Transcript to select from the following options: Show Subtitle, Open/Close Full Transcript, and Subtitle Settings. Please note that the captioning in ZOOM may not be 100% accurate.

• How do I participate in the poster sessions?

  In agenda in WHOVA, find the Interactive Poster Session you want to attend. During the time designated for each poster session, participate in the poster session by clicking View Session to access the ZOOM room where the poster session is occurring. Each poster being presented will be in a separate ZOOM breakout room.