For years, this blog post has been a go-to guide for those who’d like to stay informed about the top industry conferences addressing crucial issues, trends, and topics shaping human services.
These events not only feature exceptional programming and speakers, but provide attendees with a chance to connect, exchange innovative ideas, and explore solutions to their most recent opportunities and challenges.
Scroll down for this year’s national conference highlights or explore local and state-specific conference websites for more details. We’ll continue to update this list throughout the year as new details and opportunities become available.
National Conferences
- NCSEA Policy Forum – Washington, D.C. (January 30–February 1)
- CWLA National Conference – Washington, D.C. (April 9–11)
- APHSA’s National Health and Human Services Summit – Philadelphia, PA (June 1–4)
- NASW National Conference – Chicago, IL (June 15–19)
- Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA) – New Orleans, LA (July 20–23)
- HSFo Annual Conference – Seattle, WA (August 3–7)
- MESC Conference – Milwaukee, WI (August 11–14)
- APHSA’s Economic Mobility and Well-Being Conference – Minneapolis, MN (August 24–27)
- APHSA’s ISM Conference – Reno, NV (September 14–18)
Local/State Conferences
Conferences | Dates | Location |
| New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) Winter Conference | Winter: January 28–31 Summer: TBD (likely July) | Winter: Albany, NY Summer: Saratoga Springs, NY |
| Virginia League of Social Services Executives (VLSSE) | May 7–9 | Alexandria, VA |
| Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association (OJFSDA) Annual Training Conference | May 8–9 | Columbus, OH |
| Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI) SUMMER | Summer: June 2–4 Winter: December 1–3 | Summer: Summit County, CO Winter: Jefferson County, CO |
| Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MnCCC) | June 2–5 | Alexandria, MN |
| North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services (NCACDSS) 2025 Social Services Institute | August TBD | TBD |
| Georgia Commission on Family Violence GCFV | August 24–27 | Jekyll Island, GA |
| Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAKY) | September 15–16 | Lexington, KY |
| Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) | October 1–3 | Columbus, OH |
| Child Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) Annual Conference | October 8–10 | Santa Clara, CA |
National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Policy Forum
- Who? Current and future leaders in the child support community
- What? Provides a unique opportunity for IV-D directors, researchers, policy experts, and child support professionals to discuss and learn about the most recent developments and initiatives on the federal, state, and local levels
- When? January 29–February 1
- Where? Washington, D.C.
- Why? Rules and regulations are constantly changing. It is imperative to understand childcare policy as it helps us navigate how to best support child welfare, so that we may better our communities around us.
- Related links: Cleveland County Digitizes Case Files to Improve Performance and Mobility in Court
- Learn more: Visit NCSEA’s Policy Forum website for the 2025 schedule and additional details.
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) National Conference
- Who? Leaders and specialists in the child welfare sector
- What? An amazing networking event with over 700+ childcare professionals and advocates, with access to contemporary child welfare best practice and leadership seminars
- When? April 9–11
- Where? Washington, D.C.
- Why? Learn practical and useful ways to propel child welfare advocacy.
- Related links: New Ideas and Innovations Aiming to Fill the Gap in Child Welfare; Jackson County Overcoming Burnout and Turnover with Dedicated Caseworker Support; Wilson County Supports Workers with Modern Software for Social Services
- Learn more: Visit CWLA’s conference page to access registration and agenda information.
American Public Human Services Association’s (APHSA) National Health and Human Services Summit
- Who? Human services agency directors, program administrators, and professionals
- What? Highlights innovative practices and projects from states and counties nationwide, focusing on workforce capacity, community and human-centered design strategies, process innovation, inclusivity and belonging, along with other significant industry topics
- When? June 1–4
- Where? Philadelphia, PA
- Why? The Summit showcases innovative practices and models from state and local jurisdictions, with a special focus on individuals with lived experience. It offers community and human-centered design strategies and successes; process innovations and agile technology solutions; and strategies that center equity, inclusivity, and belonging in all the work of the human services sector.
- Related links: What’s Working to Solve the Staffing Crisis in Human Services?
- Learn more: Visit APHSA’s NHHS Summit page for more details as they become available.
National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) National Conference
- Who? Social workers, social work thought leaders, and like-minded professionals
- What? Opportunities in professional development, continuing education, networking, and thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world
- When? June 19–22
- Where? Washington, D.C.
- Why? We have several licensed social workers on staff who attend this conference every year for their continuing education. They also help us keep a pulse on the key issues impacting social workers so that we can work to identify creative ways to solve them.
- Related links: A Deep Dive into Social Work Burnout (and What Your Human Services Agency Can Do About It)
- Learn more: More information will be posted on the NASW Conference page as it becomes available.
Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA) Annual Conference
- Who? A wide range of health and human services professionals, ranging from social workers to CEOs
- What? A conference that advances equity in child welfare and mental health, empowers families, and shapes future leadership. With 100+ workshops and sessions, delve into workplace wellness, innovation, and effective practices. Enjoy inspiring keynotes and engaging volunteer experiences.
- When? July 20–23
- Where? New Orleans, LA
- Why? This event provides attendees with an opportunity to prioritize the safety and well-being of children within their communities. Attendees will also learn new strategies in family care including kinship care, older youth services, home visitations, and more.
- Related Link: A Shift in Human Services: Empowering What’s Right, Not What’s Required
- Learn more: Visit the Family Focused Treatment Association conference webpage.
National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers Organization (HSFo) Annual Conference
- Who? State and local finance professionals, federal officials, and policymakers
- What? Exchanging ideas, learning from each other’s successes, and blending best practices related to changes in federal and state policies and regulations
- When? August 3–7
- Where? Seattle, WA
- Why? It’s an opportunity to learn about new funding and grant opportunities that agencies can use to support their technology modernization and workforce capacity initiatives.
- Related link: Funding Corner: Helping Human Services Agencies Buy Software and Services; HSFO Highlights: All Things Finance and Funding in Human Services
- Learn more: Visit HSFo’s website for additional information as it becomes available.
Medicaid Enterprise Systems Community (MESC) Conference
- Who? Federal, state, and private sector officials
- What? A national platform with over 1,600 attendees, bringing together state, federal, and private sector leaders to share insights and innovations in Medicaid systems and the health policies that shape them
- When? August 11–14
- Where? Milwaukee, WI
- Why? This conference identifies best practices to better help millions of Americans. Themes include Medicaid enterprise system procurement, funding, and operations; modularity initiatives; as well as health information technology (HIT), health information exchange (HIE), and data analytics.
- Related Links: Strengthening Systems Serving Older Adults: NAMD’s Comments on ACL’s National Plan on Aging; Yolo County Streamlines In-Home Supportive Services with Electronic Case Files
- Learn more: Visit the Medicaid Enterprise Systems Community page for details.
APHSA’s Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference
- Who? Health and human services (HHS) and economic assistance leaders, policymakers, and researchers
- What? Brings together members from the American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD), the National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM), and the National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) to elevate best practices and collaborate to create a modern, responsive HHS system
- When? August 24–27
- Where? Minneapolis, MN
- Why? Technology is essential in helping every client access vital resources to support their well-being. This conference presents an excellent opportunity to dive into the strategies and tools that states and agencies are implementing not only within Medicaid, but also across all benefits and eligibility programs.
- Related links: Social Services SOS: Creative Solutions to Stabilize Staffing; Self-Care is So Yesterday: How to Re-Focus on Worker Well-Being and Foster Psychological Safety; A Deep Dive into Social Work Burnout (and What Your Human Services Agency Can Do About It)
- Learn more: Visit APHSA’s EMWB Conference page for more details.
APHSA’s IT Solutions Management (ISM) for Human Services
- Who? Agency directors, program administrators, IT directors, technology partners, and government officials
- What? Brings together federal, state, local, and private sector thought leaders to discuss lessons learned, emerging issues, and key trends relating to HHS technology
- When? September 14–18
- Where? Reno, NV
- Why? The ISM conference is a favorite of ours, offering a unique opportunity to engage with partners and industry leaders on the cutting-edge IT trends and innovations shaping the future of human services. It’s a conference that remains on our list every year!
- Related links: Answering the Top 10 Questions on Buying Human Services Technology; Solving Cybersecurity Problems in Human Services Before They Start; Every Case File, One Solution: The Future of Human Services Software
- Learn more: Visit APHSA’s ISM Conference page for more details as they become available.
What other conferences are on your radar this year? Let us know!
