The deadline to submit proposals for the 2013 conference has passed. The information below can be used as general guide to think about submitting a proposal for the 2014 conference. The actual 2014 call for proposals will be posted in the summer.

 

To submit a proposal, follow the guidelines below.

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-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 or February 2012.

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

Topics

Below is a list of topic areas to choose from when describing your proposed presentation.

1. Adoption Agency Management
2. Advanced Issues in Adoption & Adoption Therapy
3. Advocacy & Public Policy
4. Kinship Placements & Birth Family Connections
5. Parenting Adopted Children
6. Parenting Children with Special Needs
7. Permanency Options
8. Post-Adoption Services (including parent support groups)
9. Preparing for Adoption (for parents)
10. Race, Culture, & Diversity in Adoption
11. Recruitment & Pre-Adoption Services
12. Supporting Children & Families
13. First Nations/Native Child & Family Issues — NEW
14. Youth Issues for a Youth Audience (to be presented at a concurrent, one-day youth conference) — NEW

Please note that we are seeking proposals related to permanency for First Nations/native children and families. Our goal is to acknowledge differences in culture and explore how those differences affect foster care and adoption in native communities in Canada and the U.S. We are also looking for proposals about youth issues to be presented to a youth audience at a concurrent youth conference on Thursday, August 8.

Download more information about the topics.

Format

Please follow the format outlined below:

Presentation Information

• Title
• Type—Indicate institute or workshop, and list by name and number the one topic area from the list above that best fits your session.
• 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 will 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. Please also include any handout(s) 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, e-mail, day and evening phone numbers, fax
• Experience

Other Presenters (no more than two others allowed)

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

Audio-Visual Equipment Desired

Please list the equipment you want. Note that 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.

Please note: NACAC will not provide paper copies of handouts to attendees. If presenters are willing, we will post their handouts on the NACAC web site before the conference so attendees who want paper copies can print them. Speakers can also bring paper handouts if they choose. A few weeks before the conference, staff will provide lead presenters with the number of people registered for each session for copying purposes.

Submit proposals by November 2, 2012:

By e-mail (PDF or Word)—conference@nacac.org

By fax— 651-644-9848

By mail—
NACAC Conference
970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106
Saint Paul, MN 55114-1149

Questions?

651.644.3036 or conference@nacac.org