We are thrilled to announce Tennessee’s first Strengthening Tennessee Families Conference, an exciting gathering of experts, practitioners, and advocates dedicated to prevention for Tennessee families.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the University of Tennessee College of Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) are excited to introduce “Strengthening Tennessee Families,” a dynamic conference dedicated to advancing prevention practices across the state. This event is designed to inspire, educate, and foster collaboration among professionals, building a powerful team statewide committed to better serving Tennessee’s families.
Join us as we explore innovative strategies and build stronger communities together.
There are 8,904 children in DCS custody as of August 2024.
www.tn.gov
In July of 2024, the TN Child Abuse Hotline received over 6,800 calls.
www.tn.gov
For every dollar spent on prevention programs, states can save between $4 to $9 in foster care and related costs, according to the RAND Corporation.
www.rand.org
A study by Casey Family Programs found that states investing in prevention services saw a 27% reduction in foster care entries over five years.
www.casey.org
Data from the National Family Preservation Network shows that over 90% of families who receive intensive family preservation services remain intact, avoiding foster care placement.
www.nfpn.org
Why Attend?
-
Engage with leading voices in the field.
-
Share and gain insights on leading innovations in prevention practices with a focus on family-centered apporaches and protective factors.
-
Network with peers and build lasting connections.
-
Free registration and complimentary lodging provided by the conference host.
Registration is Now Open!
-
Early Registration: Be one of the first to secure your spot! The first 75 registrants before January 20th, 2025 will receive a free conference t-shirt.
-
Limited Availability: Space is limited to 200 participants and registration will be accepted on a first come basis until closure on February 28th, 2025. Register early to ensure your place.
How to Register?
Complete and submit it at your earliest convenience.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative experience. We look forward to welcoming you!
We are excited to announce our upcoming conference and extend an invitation to submit proposals that shed light on preventing child maltreatment and promoting the well-being of children and families. We are soliciting proposals for the following themes:
Conference Themes:
- Innovative Prevention Strategies: Share your research or program models that effectively prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Family-Centered Approaches: Present methods that prioritize keeping children safely with their families, highlighting the importance of family bonds and stability.
- The Five Protective Factors: Discuss how parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and children’s social and emotional competence can fortify families against stress and adversity.
Proposal Guidelines:
- All sessions must be conducted in-person at the conference.
- Sessions will be no longer than 75 minutes.
- Proposals may be for workshops, presentations, panels, or posters.
- Proposals should include a title, an abstract of no more than 250 words, and a brief outline of the session structure.
- Indicate which of the conference themes your presentation will address.
- Proposals must be original and may represent completed work, work in progress, or innovative ideas.
- We especially welcome proposals that involve: lived experience, addressing long standing inequities in child welfare, and topics that offer unique and innovative contributions to the field that have practical applications for improving practices or policies.
- Please ensure that all presentations are grounded in evidence-based practices and ethical considerations.
Poster Presentations:
- All poster presentations will be conducted in-person in a gallery type setting.
- Posters should be between 24” x 36” and 30” x 40”
Acceptance Criteria:
- Relevance to Conference Theme
- Evidence-Based Content
- Applicability to Child Welfare and Family Well-being Practice
- Accordance with Submission Guidelines
Important Dates:
- Proposal Submission Deadline: December 31, 2024
- Notification of Acceptance: January 31, 2025
- Conference Dates: April 2-4, 2025
Submission Process:
Submissions will be accepted from now until December 31, 2024.
Contact Information: For questions about the call for proposals or the submission process, please contact Brian Barber at bbarber9@utk.edu
We look forward to discovering the diverse and impactful ways you are working to keep children safe and families strong. Join us in this vital conversation at our conference.
Day One – Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025
8:45am – Registration and Breakfast
9:30am – Opening Remarks and Keynote Address, Peter Watson
10:45am – Short Break
11:15am – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
12:30pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
2:45pm – Short Break
3:00pm – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
4:15pm-5:30pm – Poster Sessions
5:30pm-7:00pm – Cocktails, Mocktails and Conversations with heavy hors d’oeuvres, UT Conference Center
Day Two – Thursday, April 3rd, 2025
8:30am – Breakfast
9:00am – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
10:15am – Coffee Break & Networking
10:45am – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
12:00pm – Lunch
1:00pm – Speed Networking
2:15pm – Breakout Sessions/Workshops
3:30pm – Break: Quiet work rooms available, shuttles on routes to shops and sightseeing provided
5:30pm – Dinner, UT Conference Center
Day Three – Friday, April 4th, 2025
9:00am – Breakfast and Panel
10:00am – Q & A
10:30am – Closing Keynote Address, DCS Commissioner Margie Quin
11:30am – Dismissal and boxed lunch pickup
