Download a PDF of this call for proposals.

If you can help parents, professionals, and advocates gain skills and knowledge, please consider presenting at NACAC’s 38th annual conference on July 26–28, 2012, in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.

Until Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 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 2012 conference. Three-hour institutes will take place on Thursday, July 26. Workshops of 90 or 120 minutes will be scheduled from Thursday morning through Saturday.

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 from which to choose when describing the type of presentation you are proposing. Pick one topic that best fits your 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

Download more information about the topics

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 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 lise 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: Presenters are responsible for providing their own handouts to NACAC conference attendees. A few weeks before the conference, staff will provide all speakers with the number of people registered for each session for copying purposes. In addition, we will ask presenters if they are willing to have their handouts posted on the NACAC web site after the conference so that attendees can access the information.

Submit proposals by November 8, 2011:

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