We are excited to announce that the Call for Proposals is now open for the 2026 Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference.
Plan to join us August 26-28, 2026 in Keystone, Colorado as we come together to learn, connect, and exchange ideas that strengthen families and communities.
This year’s theme, Stronger Together: Inspiring Change, Nurturing Hope, reflects the power of connection, collaboration, and bold ideas that move our work forward. We’re inviting you to share strategies, lived expertise, research, and data that move our work forward and spark meaningful change.
We need you!
We will have engaging keynote presenters, fun activities, and much more, but this conference wouldn’t be the same without you sharing your expertise, experiences, and lessons learned.
Whether you’re a practitioner, advocate, researcher, community leader, or someone with lived experience, your perspective is an important part of what makes this conference impactful!
We are currently seeking sessions that offer insight, tools, ideas, practical application, and enriching discussion to address the following areas:
-
- Collaboration that Creates Capacity
- Family Engagement that Works
- Innovation Lab
- Lived Experience as Leadership
- Policy to Practice
- Respectful, Responsive Practice
- Workforce Wellness
See full descriptions of all session areas on the Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will be at the conference?
The conference brings together 600+ professionals and partners working across prevention, public health, family support, home visitation, child welfare, and more — from Colorado and beyond.
Q: What experience level should my proposed session be for?
We are committed to offering sessions for a range of experience levels. In addition to introductory content, we strongly encourage proposals that provide intermediate and advanced learning opportunities, including deeper skill-building, nuanced discussion, and exploration of complex or systems-level topics.
Q: What are you looking for in a session?
We’re looking for engaging, interactive sessions that emphasize knowledge-sharing, skill building, and practical application. Proposals may also incorporate data-informed practice, evaluation findings, continuous quality improvement, and innovative approaches to learning and improvement.
Sessions should spark respectful, thought-provoking dialogue and leave participants with ideas they can apply as they reflect on their role in strengthening families and communities in Colorado.
Q: How long are the breakout sessions?
All sessions will be 75 minutes in length.
Q: Is it okay if this will be my first time presenting?
Absolutely! We welcome both seasoned presenters and new voices. If your session aligns with the conference purpose and session areas, we encourage you to submit a proposal.
Q: How do I submit my proposal?
Proposals must be submitted using the Call for Proposals submission form. Proposals sent by email cannot be reviewed or considered. Please note that you will not able to save an unfinished proposal and return to your work, so gather all of the information you need before starting.
Q: When is my proposal due?
Submit your proposal for a breakout session by March 1, 2026.
Q: When will I know whether my proposal was accepted?
All complete submissions will be reviewed by the conference planning committee, and you will be notified via email no later than May 1, 2026 regarding whether your proposal is accepted.
Q: Are there any benefits if my proposal is selected?
Selected proposals will receive complimentary conference registration for up to two presenters. Please note that presenters are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and per diem.
Still have questions?
Email Shannon Day, Education Program Manager, at sday@illuminatecolorado.org
About the Conference
The Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference is a biennial event and is a joint collaboration across the family support continuum, from prevention and public health through restoration and child welfare.
The Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference is brought to you in partnership by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and Illuminate Colorado.
