Call for Presentations: Protecting Our Children Conference

The Call for Presentations is now open for the National Indian Child Welfare Association's (NICWA) 45th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference, taking place April 4–7, 2027, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Learn more about this event. 

Presenters are the heart of NICWA's Protecting Our Children Conference. By sharing your knowledge, experience, and promising practices, you help strengthen Native child welfare programs and improve outcomes for Native children and families across Indian Country.

Guided by this year's theme, "Rooted in Ancestral Wisdom, Weaving Sacred Connections," the conference will bring together more than 1,500 attendees for the premier event in Native child welfare and feature more than 90 workshops.

NICWA is seeking presentations in the areas of child welfare, foster care and adoption services; children's mental health; judicial and legal affairs; and youth and family involvement. This year, they're also introducing Best Practice Mini Sessions, a new 45-minute workshop format that provides an opportunity to share practical strategies and innovative approaches in a focused session.

If you'd like to learn more about submitting a proposal, join the informational webinar on September 17 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. Presenters will review the submission process and answer questions, and a recording will be available afterward for those who cannot attend.

Presentation proposals are due October 30,2026. Submit a presentation proposal today and help make the 45th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference a meaningful learning experience for all.