41st Annual Protecting Our Children Conference

Each year, the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) hosts the largest national gathering on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) child advocacy issues. With over 1,400 attendees—and growing every year—this three-day conference has become the premiere national event addressing tribal child welfare and well-being. Keynote speakers range from federal officials at the highest level of government to youth with lived experience in child welfare systems.

NICWA provides meaningful programming to conference attendees, creating a space where participants can learn about the latest developments and best practices from experts in the field and from one another. Participants represent a cross-section of fields and interests including child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice service providers; legal professionals; students; advocates for children; and tribal, state, and federal leaders.

Conference Goals:

Highlight successful strategies for developing effective services
Reveal the latest and most innovative child welfare and children’s mental health service delivery practices
Highlight tactics and strategies for financing and sustaining services that impact children
Showcase strategies for involving youth and families in developing services and policies that lead to systems change
Create peer-to-peer networks that will assist each other in the work toward permanency for all AI/AN families
Share the latest research on the well-being of AI/AN children and effective child welfare and children’s mental health services, practices, and policies
This year’s event will be in person in Reno, Nevada from April 2-5, 2023.

Register now with the National Indian Child Welfare Association!