STAR Network Foundation and vFairs Join Forces to Bring Free Global Mental Health Summit to 60+ Countries

Scars to STARs Summit 2026, Hosted on vFairs Platform, Marks 30 Years of ACEs Science with Historic Partnership, High-Profile Speakers, and Radical Access to Trauma Recovery

STAR Network Foundation, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting Survivors of Toxic Abusive Relationships (STARs), today announced its partnership with vFairs, a leading global virtual event platform, to host the Scars to STARs Summit 2026 — a landmark free global virtual summit taking place on STARs Day, May 22, 2026, during Mental Health Awareness Month.

The summit, themed The ACEs Next 30 Years: The Future of Trauma-Informed Recovery, is free and open to survivors, families, clinicians, and advocates worldwide. Participants from more than 60 countries are expected to attend.

Registration: Scars to STARs Summit 2026 is free and open to the public. Register at starnetwork.org/scars-to-stars-2026/attend/

A Partnership Built for Purpose: Technology Meets Mission

STAR Network Foundation has partnered with vFairs to provide the virtual infrastructure powering Scars to STARs Summit 2026. vFairs’ immersive event platform seamlessly connected survivors, clinicians, advocates, and thought leaders from across 60+ countries during last year’s summit — ensuring that no one was turned away due to geography, cost, or accessibility barriers.

Through vFairs’ robust registration, engagement, and analytics tools, STAR Network was able to deliver a professional, high-impact experience worthy of its global mission — one where every attendee felt welcomed, supported, and part of something larger than themselves. vFairs’ dedicated support model allowed the STAR Network team to focus on what matters most: the people they serve.

“ vFairs gave us the platform to meet our community where they are — anywhere in the world, at no cost,” said Jamie Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, Founder and Executive Director of STAR Network Foundation. “Mental health should not be a privilege. It should be a right. This partnership helps us turn that belief into reality.”

Scars to STARs Summit 2026 is not simply a virtual conference — it is a historic convening. This year’s event marks nearly 30 years since the publication of the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, one of the most consequential public health studies in American history.

• Highlights of the 2026 summit include: High-Profile Speakers: Former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy and Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, lead a roster of global mental health leaders.
• Landmark Award Recipients: ACEs study co-principal investigators Dr. Vincent J. Felitti and Dr. Robert F. Anda will each receive the 2026 STAR NeuroLeadership Award, honoring their foundational contributions to trauma science.
• Historic Organizational Announcement: The summit will mark the formal integration of PACEs Connection into the STAR Network ecosphere, uniting a global community of over 69,000 members and 500 chapters with STAR’s grassroots infrastructure.
• Truly Global Reach: Participants from 60+ countries are expected, with the event free and accessible to all — made possible in part by vFairs’ scalable event technology.

Shared Values: Making Mental Health a Right, Not a Privilege

At the heart of this partnership is a shared conviction: that healing should be available to everyone, everywhere. STAR Network Foundation has built its entire model around free, accessible, community-driven recovery — from TAR Anon®, its free peer-led virtual fellowship meeting five days a week across time zones, to STARs Day itself, an annual gift to the world during Mental Health Awareness Month.

vFairs’ network and platform capabilities extend the reach of STARs Day to audiences who may not have previously encountered STAR Network’s mission, creating new pathways for survivors to find support, connection, and community. Together, the two organizations are demonstrating what is possible when technology is deployed in service of human dignity.

“What’s been missing is access,” said Dr. Huysman. “Stars Day 2026 is about turning three decades of evidence into infrastructure that actually reaches the people who need it.”

About STAR Network Foundation

STAR Network Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building accessible, community-driven pathways to healing for Survivors of Toxic Abusive Relationships (STARs). Through TAR Anon® — a free, peer-led, virtual fellowship — and programs like NorthSTAR and the annual Scars to STARs Day Summit, the Foundation works to make trauma-informed recovery available to anyone, anywhere, at no cost. Learn more at starnetwork.org

About vFairs

vFairs is an all-in-one event management platform that powers in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. Our event technology empowers companies worldwide to host custom, immersive events and achieve incredible results. The platform features a virtual events platform and mobile app, each offering immersive virtual venues, advanced networking, world-renowned customer service, and many features that help you host unforgettable events.

Press contact:

Dr. Jamie Huysman | Founder & Executive Director | STAR Network Foundation

📧 [email protected]

📞 305-303-4000

🌐 https://starnetwork.org