Information for Presenters

We are requesting proposals for breakout sessions to be presented during the 2008 Policy to Practice Dialogue “Child Welfare Leadership in Action.” The meeting will take place Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol in Washington, DC. The meeting is by invitation only and participants include State Foster Care Managers, State Adoption Managers, State Family Preservation Managers, Federal Children’s Bureau Staff, and Representatives from the Children’s Bureau’s Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Network.

The meeting will focus on the leadership needed to achieve systemic and cultural change necessary in improving outcomes for children and families touched by our child welfare system.

Dates:
Proposals are being requested for workshop sessions presented during the following time frames :

• Monday, October 20, from 1:30-3:00 pm
• Monday, October 20, from 3:15-4:45 pm
• Tuesday, October 21, from 10:45 am-12:00 pm.

Location:
Holiday Inn Capitol
550 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

Audience:
The audience will consist largely of the following groups:

• State child welfare participants: State Family Preservation Managers, State Foster Care Program Managers, State Adoption Program Managers
• Federal Children’s Bureau Staff
• Members of the Children’s Bureau’s Training and Technical Assistance Network

Workshop Size:
Each breakout session will include approximately 50 participants.

Session Length/Presenters:
Breakout sessions will last no longer than 90 minutes. Presentations may include foster/adoptive/birth families, youth and community partners.

Format:
Proposals may be submitted in any of the following formats:

• Workshop
• Panel Discussions with Q&A
• Peer-to-Peer Sessions (facilitated discussions among specific participant groups about specific topics of common interest)

Proposals are also being requested for the National Association of State Adoption Programs (NASAP) Annual Working Meeting which takes place October 22-23, 2008, immediately following the Dialogue:

For your convenience, we have included the priority topics for each meeting.

Topics:
We are seeking workshop presentations in the following priority topical areas:

2008 Policy to Practice Dialogue Priority Topics

• Service Array
• Systems of Care / Wrap Around / Agency Collaboration
• Older Youth Permanency
• Kinship Support and Education
• Customer Service in Public Child Welfare Systems
• Interjurisdictional Issues
• Effective Strategies to Address Older Youth in Care
• Immigration Issues in Child Welfare
• Family Group Conferencing/Team Decision Making
• Intensive Home-Based Services
• Effective Placement Prevention Models
• Kinship Issues
• Post Permanency Services/Supports
• Permanency Perspective from the Onset of a Case
• Effective Engagement of Families
• Differential Response

NASAP Priority Topics

• Funding Resources for Post Adoption
• Subsequent Adoptions/Guardianships after Death or Disruption
• Immigration Issues and Adoption
• Effective Post Adoption Supports (especially supporting older youth permanency)

Selection Process:
All proposals will be reviewed and rated by the conference planning committee which is comprised of Children's Bureau personnel, T/TA Network representatives, and State representatives. Selected proposals will then be submitted to the Children's Bureau administration for final approval. Presenters will be notified of their selection by Monday, August 25, 2008.

Application Form:
Please click this link to access the Call for Papers Application Form.

Deadline for Submissions:
In order for your proposal to be considered, your completed applications are due no later than Friday, August 8, 2008 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Compensation:
Please note we are unable to pay an honorarium or reimburse presenters for travel-related expenses. If you are a State Foster Care, Adoption, or Family Preservation Manager, please click here for the Invited Participants section of our website for more information about sponsored participants.

Questions:
The National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption (NCWRCA) is assisting the Children’s Bureau with the planning logistics of this meeting. For any questions regarding the request for presentations, please contact Ingrid Parks at (248) 443-0306 or iparks@nrcadoption.org.