2026 Call For Presenters

The submission period for the 2026 Call for Presenters has now concluded. We sincerely thank all who submitted their proposals. If you missed the deadline, we encourage you to join our mailing list. This will ensure you receive notifications when the 2027 Call for Presenters opens next year, giving you the opportunity to participate.

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CALL FOR 2026 PROPOSAL GENERAL INFORMATION

The 2026 CWDA Conference will take place October 14 - 16 at the Anaheim Marriott, 700 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802. This year’s theme is “CWDA 100: A Century of Impact”.

CWDA is seeking interactive, solutions-focused 90-minute session proposals for its 2026 Centennial Conference that address current human services challenges while drawing on lessons from the past and offering actionable strategies for the future.

Key Points:

  • Audience includes county human services leadership/staff, state partners, legislators, and community organizations

  • Sessions should be practical, engaging, and focused on real-world application and scalable solutions

  • Priority topics include:

    • System transformation under H.R. 1 (policy impacts, partnerships, workforce pathways)

    • Workforce sustainability and the future of work (staffing, technology, AI)

    • Child and family wellbeing (prevention, housing, economic supports)

    • Services for older adults and people with disabilities (aging, community care, partnerships)

    • Formats include panel discussions, workshops, and roundtables (max 4 panelists)

    • Proposals must include title, description, format, audience, learning objectives, and speaker details

Proposals were due by Friday, April 10, 2026, by 9:00 PM PST. For full details and submission guidelines, please email [email protected]. 

What We Are Seeking:

Proposals for the 2026 Annual CWDA Conference “CWDA 100: A Century of Impact” are being accepted through Friday, April 10, 2026. As we mark this Centennial milestone, we invite proposals that not only respond to today’s most pressing policy, funding, and practice challenges but also draw upon the achievements and lessons from our collective 100-year legacy as a source of inspiration for the next century of service. We are seeking 90-minute presentations that are interactive, solutions-oriented, grounded in real-world application, and that elevate both the resilience of county systems and the innovation required to serve our communities. Presentations that not only share knowledge but also equip attendees with actionable strategies to navigate an increasingly complex human services landscape are preferred. We are seeking sessions that balance reflection and action, honoring the lessons of the past while advancing bold, practical solutions that will shape the future of human services for the next century.

Audience/Attendees:

Note that the audience for proposals includes county leadership and staff of the 58 county human services agencies, key partner agencies that provide implementation support and public policy advocacy at the State and local levels, State-level legislative staff, State department representatives, and community-based organizations. Presentations should provide opportunities to convey key findings and policy/program implications to inform and inspire conference attendees to work towards scalable solutions locally and statewide.

Proposed Area of Focus: Navigating System Transformation Under H.R. 1

CWDA invites proposals that highlight innovative, forward-thinking county strategies to mitigate the impacts of H.R. 1 and ensure that individuals and families remain connected to critical supports, including food assistance and health coverage. As counties navigate significant policy and operational shifts, we are particularly interested in approaches that leverage cross-sector partnerships with local workforce development boards, community-based organizations, and private sector entities to increase income stability, reduce poverty, promote wellbeing, and sustain access to programs such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh.

Proposals should also explore creative and effective models for connecting clients to employment, training, education, and meaningful volunteer opportunities, including best practices for engagement and sustained participation as counties implement new H.R. 1 work requirements. Special focus and consideration should be given to the most vulnerable populations who may have difficulty meeting work requirements or qualifying for exemptions, including immigrants, unhoused individuals, older and disabled adults. Additionally, proposals on how to effectively leverage partnerships with Managed Care Plans, other county departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and other health entities and community-based organizations to ensure timely exemptions from work requirements for those who qualify are welcome.

Additional Area of Focus: Navigating the Future of Work

Recognizing the central role of the eligibility workforce as the “First Responders to Poverty,” proposals should address workforce sustainability, including recruitment, retention, staff engagement, and resilience.

Submissions may further address the role of data and technology in evaluating and responding to the impacts of H.R. 1, as well as advancing other mandates related to child welfare and older adults programs. This includes identifying existing data systems that support implementation and decision-making, as well as gaps that must be addressed. Proposals that explore the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in freeing up workers’ time to focus on supporting the communities we serve are encouraged, as well as sessions that illustrate the indispensable role of human-driven work in the delivery of public social service programs.

We are also interested in forward-looking operational strategies that help counties adapt to increased demand on the workforce while managing diminishing resources. Proposals may highlight organizational innovations, service delivery redesign, and scalable models that improve efficiency while maintaining client-centered outcomes.

Additional Area of Focus: From Child Welfare to Child Wellbeing

CWDA encourages submissions that examine innovative approaches to strengthening families experiencing reductions in concrete supports, such as food security, access to medical care, housing, and other poverty related stressors. This includes strategies aimed at preventing increased child welfare involvement, including programs like Bringing Families Home and FURS, as well as supporting family reunification and maintenance in the context of rising economic hardship and housing instability.

Given the ongoing implementation of the Tiered Rate Structure (TRS) and continued advancement of Kin-First culture by counties and the State, submissions are encouraged that reflect what counties are doing to prepare for implementation. Additionally, showcasing prevention efforts that are consistent with Mandated Reporting Community Supporting goals are welcome. Proposers are encouraged to consider other emerging state and federal initiatives, such as Fostering the Future, and how these efforts may align with and support county-level innovation.

Additional Area of Focus: Renewing Our Commitment to Older Adults and People with Disabilities

We are committed to ensuring older adults can age safely, independently, and with dignity in their homes and communities. County human services agencies are not just implementers of Adult Protective Services (APS) and programs like IHSS and Home Safe, they are innovators and trusted community anchors. Through partnerships, counties can streamline service delivery and achieve optimal outcomes for clients and their caregivers. Proposals are welcome that illustrate this “whole of community” approaches to supporting older adult populations. Additionally, proposals are welcome that highlight the important work being done as it relates to the Community First Choice Option (CFCO), and other services and supports targeting the aging population.

Finally, proposals may incorporate research, forecasting, and contingency planning that prepare counties for long-term demographic and socioeconomic shifts are encouraged. This includes an aging population, evolving workforce dynamics, and a future in which many individuals may experience prolonged periods with fewer supports than in previous decades.

Presentation Format Types:

Panel Presentation

  • A structured discussion format in which a group of experts share their perspectives, insights, and expertise on a particular subject.

  • Panel sessions typically involve moderated conversations, Q&A sessions, and audience interactions that offer participants a comprehensive understanding of the topic through multiple viewpoints.

  • Strongly encourage showcasing success stories to show how program innovations impact the real lives of those served and improve community outcomes.

  • A panel should have no more than four speakers, including a moderator.

Workshop Session

  • Following a short presentation, session will engage and interact with participants.

  • A workshop is a collaborative and interactive session where participants engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and exercises to acquire specific skills, knowledge, or practical insights on a particular subject or theme. Workshops often incorporate breakouts that allow participants to connect with one another, co-create, and report back out.

  • Workshops aim to foster active learning and skill development through participant involvement and shared experiences.

Roundtable Discussion

  • Host a facilitated discussion with subject matter experts (SME) on trending topics impacting the human services sector.

  • Roundtable discussions often include one or more VIPs and are more conversational and interview-style.

What To Include in Your Proposal:

Your proposal must include a response to the following prompts:

  • Title of the presentation.

  • Description of presentation in your own words (limit to 150 words).

  • How your presentation is tied to the Conference theme: “CWDA 100 – A Century of Impact”.

  • Area of focus your presentation will cover.

  • Format you plan to use to deliver your content (e.g., panel presentation, workshop session, roundtable discussion).

  • Target audience, including the type of role or occupation/job function and level of experience (for example: county leadership, county staff, state departments, legislative representatives, community leaders, advocacy groups, researchers, etc.).

  • Learning objectives: what are the main behaviors, messages, motivations, or actions you hope your audience will adopt after engaging with your content.

  • List of the names, titles, organizations, and emails of all panelists who will be involved in the presentation. This is required for submission.

Materials you are asked to upload:

  • Timed workshop agenda or syllabus.

  • If applicable, samples of past presentations (not required).

Other Important Submission Considerations:

No more than four panelists will be allowed per presentation for panel sessions that are accepted into the event program, with exceptions provided for panels that include persons with lived-experience and community-based representatives (prior approval needed from CWDA within one week of acceptance).

  • Sessions with only one speaker are discouraged (exceptions provided for panels that include persons with lived-experience and community-based representatives).

  • Presenters who are county/state human services staff, who would have otherwise attended the CWDA Conference, will be expected to pay the full registration fee if they are selected to present. CWDA covers the travel costs (if applicable) of non-county speakers and allows those non-county speakers to attend sessions on the day of their presentation only; however, we do encourage non-county/non-state speakers to attend the entire conference for the full registration fee.

  • Presentations will be confirmed by mid-June 2026. If your presentation is selected and later presenters are unable to present, presenters are solely responsible for finding replacement presenter(s) to fulfill the presentation commitment and informing speaker management of the change.

  • Should Sponsors/Exhibitors or other vendors be interested in making a presentation, we have made a demo option available under certain sponsorship levels. Vendors are otherwise prohibited from submitting proposals and from being on presentation panels but may assist and advise panels to support preparation for the presentation and are welcome to attend breakout sessions.

How To Submit Your Proposal:

2026 Call for Presentations Process:

Proposals must be submitted online and will only be accepted via this online form. This document is only for the purposes of preparing online submissions. Given the competitive nature of these submissions, please ensure your proposal is complete, descriptive, and thorough as the Conference Planning Committee uses this information to make its final selections. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN YOUR PROPOSAL NOT BEING SELECTED AND/OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

For additional questions, please contact us at:[email protected]

We encourage all interested presenters to review these guidelines carefully and start preparing early for future conferences.