 |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Annual NACAC Conference
From July 30 to August 2, 2008, the North American Council on Adoptable Children will partner with the Adoption Council of Canada to hold the 34th annual NACAC conference in Ottawa, Ontario. The conference is open to everyone interested in the welfare of children and families, including adoptive, foster, and birth parents, kinship care providers, child welfare professionals, and other child advocates. Below and on the links to the left, you will find all of the information in the conference registration booklet. You can also download a PDF of the booklet. Location The conference will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, one of the world’s most beautiful capitols, a North American city with a European charm and flair. Ottawa offers a wide variety of sightseeing attractions including Parliament Hill, Byward Market, Rideau Canal, Gatineau Park, galleries and museums, as well as fine restaurants, bistros, and cafes. There are walking, hiking, cycling, and bus tours throughout the city and region. For more information go to www.ottawatourism.ca. All U.S. travelers—adults and children—need passports for travel to and from Canada. If you do not have a passport, you should apply for one well in advance of the conference date. Visit http://travel.state.gov/ passport/passport_1738.html to learn more. Accommodations This year’s conference will take place at The Westin Ottawa and The Ottawa Congress Centre. Guest rooms have been reserved at The Westin Ottawa and at Les Suites Hotel Ottawa. Both hotels are centrally located in downtown Ottawa minutes from all major attractions such as the National Gallery of Canada, Rideau Shopping Centre, and Bayward Market. Pre-conference sessions, general sessions, institutes, and workshops will be held at the Westin Ottawa and the Ottawa Congress Centre. Guest room discount rates are as follows (availability extends until all rooms fill up or the assigned deadline date of June 30, 2008).
Because rooms often fill quickly, we strongly encourage you to make hotel reservations well before July. To get the group rate, tell the reservation operator that you will be attending the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) conference. The two hotels set all guarantees, deposits, and cancellation policies, so be sure to ask about them when making your reservation. Registration Fees Full registration fees cover institutes, workshops, general sessions, and Saturday’s awards luncheon. Handouts and a one-year individual NACAC membership (for those who register at the non-member rate) are also included. Registrants can also elect to attend a single day or two. For those who cannot pre-register, on-site registration will be available. Current NACAC members receive discounted registration fees: one for individual and parent group members, up to 20 for enhanced parent group and organizational members, and unlimited for employees of national/corporate members. Registrants can also apply for membership with the registration and use the discounted rate. Conference registration fees—payable by check, money order, purchase order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard)—are due with each registration. All fees are the same in both U.S. and Canadian dollars. Click here for more about registering for the conference.
Cancellation Fees NACAC will refund registration fees (less a service fee of $50) only if we receive a written cancellation notice by June 30. Potential Title IV-E Reimbursement for U.S. Attendees States that provide for training in their Title IV-B plan can be reimbursed for approved training expenses incurred by social workers, adoption workers, and foster and adoptive parents. Title IV-E administrative cost reimbursement rules allow 75 percent reimbursement for trainings (like the NACAC conference) that meet U.S. federal guidelines. Your state adoption supervisor may know if training funds are available.
Travel Flights To receive discounts on United Airlines (our conference airline), U.S. Airways, or Air Canada flights, call United MeetingsPlus (800.521.4041) and use meeting number 577UO. If you book your flight at least 30 days in advance, discounts are 7 to 15 percent; those who book fewer than 30 days ahead get a 2 to 10 percent discount. Another 5 percent discount is available for tickets purchased online (www.united.com). Go to More Search Options (in the book flight box) and enter code 577UO. Ground Transportation The Ottawa YOW Airporter transports travelers from the airport to downtown hotels. (Visit www.yowshuttle.com for more information.) It departs from the airport at Post 10, Level 1 arrival area, 5 and 35 minutes after the hour. Fares are no more than $14 one-way and $24 round trip; children under eight (up to two per adult) travel free. Taxi fares to downtown are about $25. Parking The parking lot adjacent to the Westin is under construction, but the hotel offers valet parking for hotel guests at $35 per night. Attendees can also park at the Ottawa Congress Centre for $24 per day and night. At Les Suites Hotel, parking is $15.50 a day for 24-hour in and out privileges in an above-ground, secured parking garage adjacent to the hotel. Find other parking options at www.ottawakiosk.com/parking_maps.html. Workshops and Institutes Workshop tracks will include recruiting permanent families, adoption support and preservation, permanency options, international adoption, parenting children with challenges, advocacy and public policy, and more. Click here for a complete listing of conference sessions. Evening Activities The Thursday evening reception gives attendees a chance to network with one another. For other evening activities, a variety of restaurants as well as shopping and entertainment venues are within walking distance of the hotels. Exhibit Space During the conference, tabletop displays will be located in the Congress Centre’s Colonel By Salon space. Positioned near registration, general sessions, and many workshops, the exhibit area is accessible to all attendees. Because space will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, apply early. The exhibit registration deadline is June 1 and application packets are available from NACAC. Exhibit Fees (All fees are the same in both U.S. and Canadian dollars.) First Table (6 feet long)
Extra tables — $105 each Academic Accreditation The College of St. Catherine, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, is offering continuing education units (CEUs) for the conference. The full conference is approved for 18 contact hours or 1.8 CEUs, and you can apply for credit at the conference. Daily CEU certification and pre-conference session CEUs will be available as well. Before coming to Ottawa, please verify applicability with your professional board. Meetings for Special Interest Groups On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, special interest groups can hold meetings open to all conference attendees or for a specified group. All sessions will be held at the Westin Ottawa. If you would like to sponsor an evening meeting, contact NACAC as soon as possible. Space is limited and meeting times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Room reservations must be made by June 15. A final list of evening meetings will be in the final program. Audio Recordings Von Ende Communications will sell CDs of most institutes, general sessions, and workshops during the conference and afterward at www.adoptioncds.com.
Children's Programs Childcare Program Childcare is open to 80 children between ages 1 and 12 on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be housed at the Westin Ottawa. On Thursday and Friday, childcare will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturday childcare starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends around 3:00 p.m. following the closing session. The childcare program includes three days of care, field trip admission fees, transportation, daily snacks, and lunches all for $200 per child—less than the full price of the service. Single-day childcare is not available. If you need childcare, please register as soon as possible to reserve space in the program and give the providers ample time to prepare. To register, download and complete the form and return it to NACAC with payment by June 30. NACAC will then send a detailed itinerary of scheduled events and daily activities. Infants and Toddlers Children ages 1 and 2 will remain at the Westin in a day care environment. The program offers self- and teacher-directed activities as well as age-appropriate toys and games, art, story time, and quiet time. Preschoolers Children ages 2 to 5 will also stay at the Westin where they can participate in a variety of creative activities. Children may engage in structured activities or choose to play with puzzles, coloring, and other educational toys. Ages 6 through 12 Older children will meet at the Westin and leave the hotel each day for off-site activities. Field trips are chosen for educational and entertainment value, local interest, age appropriateness, and safety. Children will be transported in vehicles specially designed to accommodate them. Teen Program For youth ages 13 to 17, the teen program will include field trips as well as educational sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It too is based at the Westin, and will be planned and supervised by local organizers. Registrations for the teens will also be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (download form) and must NACAC will refund childcare/teen registration fees—less a service charge of $25—only for written cancellations received by June 30. No refunds can be issued after that date. Special Considerations Since some attendees are sensitive to chemical scents, please refrain from using perfume and cologne at the conference. Also, as a courtesy to presenters, please turn off cell phone and pager ringers during sessions, and leave the room if you must take a call. Special Thanks! NACAC and ACC extend their appreciation to the following agencies, organizations, and groups for their continuing support of the 34th annual conference:
|
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106
St. Paul, MN 55114
phone: 651-644-3036
fax: 651-644-9848
e-mail: info@nacac.org
Feedback