Call for Proposals

Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association and the UMKC School of Social Work invite you to present your perspectives and experiences at their 7th annual conference. This two-day regional conference brings together families and those working with them to learn from each other, to improve their collaboration, and to integrate their efforts.

There are many innovative ideas and approaches that are not well known in our communities. This conference shines a light upon them. Amongst others, topics addressed in previous conferences have focused upon parenting challenges and skills, social and behavioral interventions, as well as family, school and court communication.

Presentations at this year’s conference will be organized for three target populations: 1.) Topics most relevant to families, 2.) Topics developed with and for Children’s Division staff, and 3.) Topics of interest to legal representatives, mental health, education and social service providers.

We are especially interested in presentations that address:

  • Innovative approaches that bridge perspectives of public child welfare staff and contractors, foster, adoptive, kinship and biological parents
  • Ways to address the challenges of adopting teen-aged youth
  • Models for collaborative team development
  • Strengths-based means to connect biological families with foster or adoptive families to best support their child
  • Bridging perspectives of legal representatives with those of the children and their families
  • How current laws impact the lives of these children and their families

Presentation Formats

Skills Workshop

A skills workshop may be 45 or 90 minutes in duration and should clearly focus on one or more conference goals. Proposals should include a detailed discussion of the importance of the skills, and how they will be taught so participants may apply them in their homes or work settings.

Paper Presentation

Papers focus upon specific issues and concerns and may be 45 to 90 minutes in duration. They may describe models and programs and results of the evaluation of those services. Paper proposals must clearly focus upon one or more conference goals.

Roundtable or Panel Discussion

Roundtable or panel discussions may include several paper presentations or the presentation of a variety of perspectives on a specific issue or concern. Roundtable or panel discussions must clearly focus upon one or more conference goals and should allow sufficient time for audience discussion with presenters.

Poster Presentation

Poster presentations allow for more intimate discussion than the above formats. They require presenters to succinctly and visually depict their ideas and/or program or data from program evaluation. Poster presentations will remain standing for the duration of the conference – thus, they offer significant marketing opportunities.

Submission Process

All proposal submissions should include the following:

  • Presenter Information – Name, title, organization, address, phones, fax, e-mail
  • Brief Biography – If there are multiple presenters, please include a biography for each individual
  • Format – Paper, Roundtable, Skills Workshop, or Poster
  • Target Population Track – 1) Families, 2) Children’s Division Staff, or 3) legal representatives, mental health, education and social service providers
  • Conference Goal – Identify which conference goal is addressed in your proposal
  • Title – No more than 14 words and must give the reader a clear understanding of what your presentation is focused on
  • Abstract – 50 words that summarize the focus of your presentation – this will be in the conference agenda and will be used by conference participants to select which presentation to attend
  • Summary – up to 750 words – If your proposal is accepted, this will be published as part of the refereed conference proceedings – Your summary should clearly address conference themes and goals

Strong proposals will clearly identify key issues or concerns, and suggest innovative and collaborative approaches to integrate community response to foster or adoptive children and their many families. In addition, skills workshop proposals should clearly identify learning objectives. Once presenters are selected, they will be required to register for the conference at our discounted conference presenter rate. All proposals should be submitted in a Word document format.

View an example of a strong proposal.

Please submit proposals to:

Justin@mfcaa.org or

MFCAA/Attn: Justin Newkirk
3210 S Lee’s Summit Rd
Independence, MO 64055

Submission Dates

All proposals must be submitted by August 14, 2009. Submissions received by July 31 will receive first preference. Proposals will be reviewed the following weeks and selected presenters will receive an acceptance notice by August 31.