The Work Ahead: Practice, Policy, and Possibility 2026

We are in a moment of profound transformation. Across the country, communities are feeling the impact of shifting federal priorities and uncertain funding. The programs that support families---including health care, food assistance, and housing---are under strain. This has deep implications for children, youth, parents, families and the organizations that serve them---not just in child welfare, but across every entity that touches their lives. Yet even in this environment of uncertainty, opportunity exists---if we are ready to act with clarity, courage, and vision. The central theme guiding next year's conference is: what's next? The question is no longer whether the child welfare system should change, but how---and what we will choose to build in its place? What must we discard, and what must we preserve? How do we design a system that truly affords children and families the support and freedom to flourish within their communities? How do we fight for what's right without losing hope or momentum? We know that not everything needs to be reinvented. Across the country, people are doing good work---innovating, protecting, strengthening families, and partnering with communities. This year's conference is about lifting up what works and asking how we carry that work forward in new and more sustainable ways. It's about preparing for change, envisioning the future, and being bold enough to lead it. We have called on advocates, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders to submit workshop proposals that help move the field forward---grounded in values and principles, focused on action and practical strategies, and driven by hope. We will accept proposals that speak to systemic design, effective practice, equitable policy, and workforce support in a time of change. This is not a time for resignation. It's a time for resolve. CWLA's 2026 Conference will be a space for those ready to stand, build, and prevail. Join us in shaping what's next.