If you can help parents, professionals, and advocates gain skills and knowledge, please consider presenting at NACAC’s 35th annual conference on August12–15, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. 

Until Friday, October 17, 2008, NACAC encourages adoptive and foster parents, child welfare professionals, adoptees, birth parents, former foster youth, researchers, therapists, and other child advocates to submit workshop and institute proposals for the 2009 conference. Three-hour institutes will take place on Thursday, August 13. Ninety-minute workshops will be scheduled from Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon.

Guidelines

Sessions may have up to three presenters. If multiple presenters submit proposals to discuss similar issues, NACAC may ask them to present as a panel. Presenters who are NACAC members do not have to pay registration fees, but are expected to donate their time and expenses as a contribution to waiting children and the adoption community.

Proposed presentations should address topics such as models of post-legal adoption services, family recruitment and retention, parent group activities, or other adoption-related subjects. Follow the format below and provide a detailed outline and a statement suggesting what participants will gain from the presentation.

NACAC makes final session selections after board members, staff, and conference committee participants review each proposal. We will notify prospective presenters about final session decisions in January 2009.

NACAC is not responsible for verifying the originality of submissions, and cannot be held liable for presenters’ copyright infringements or other ownership rights violations.

Topic Areas

Below is a list of topic areas from which to choose when describing the type of presentation you are proposing. Pick one topic that best fits your presentation:

1.  Adoption Agency Issues & Concerns
2. Adoptive & Foster Parent Support Groups
3. Advocacy & Public Policy
4.   International Adoption
5. Kinship Care
6. Parenting
7. Parenting Children with Challenges
8. Permanency Options
9. Post-Adoption Services
10. Preparing Parents for Adoption
11. Race, Culture, & Diversity in Adoption
12. Recruiting Permanent Families
13. Search & Openness in Adoption
14. Supporting Children
15. Teen Issues—for a teen audience
16. Therapeutic Techniques—advanced  

Format

Please follow the format outlined below:

Presentation Information

• Title
• Type—Indicate institute or workshop, and a topic area (from the list above) by number and name.
• Level—Determine a level of intermediate or advanced—intermediate sessions have basic information on a subject area with practical applications; advanced sessions present up-to-date research or content for attendees who already have a strong basic understanding of the issue.
• Description for brochure—Descriptions should be 25 to 75 words in length, and give conference attendees a sense of what to expect from the presentation. NACAC reserves the right to edit descriptions for length, content, and clarity.
• Content—Suggest your intended format (lecture, open discussion, panel presentation) and outline the material you plan to present. (If you are submitting your proposal by e-mail, you may also include any handout you would distribute.)
• Intended audience—List parents, social workers, advocates, teens, etc., and include prior knowledge needed, if any.

Lead Presenter

• Name
• Title
• Affiliation
• Address, day and evening phone numbers, fax, and e-mail
• Experience

Other Presenters (no more than two others allowed)

• Name
• Title
• Affiliation
• Address, day and evening phone numbers, fax, and e-mail
• Experience

Audio-Visual Equipment Desired (Please note: NACAC does not provide LCD projectors or computers, but can provide a screen and cart if you let us know you will bring a projector.)

Submit proposals by October 17, 2008:

By e-mail (in PDF or Word format)—info@nacac.org
By fax—651-644-9848
By mail—
NACAC Conference
970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106
St. Paul, MN 55114-1149

Questions?

Contact NACAC at 651.644.3036 or info@nacac.org