1700 Richmond Highway Arlington
VA 22202
The central theme guiding this conference is: what’s next? The question is no longer whether the child welfare system should change, but how—and what we will choose to build in its place? Across the country, people are doing good work—innovating, protecting, strengthening families, and partnering with communities. This year’s conference is about lifting up what works and asking how we carry that work forward in new and more sustainable ways. It’s about preparing for change, envisioning the future, and being bold enough to lead it. This is not a time for resignation. It’s a time for resolve. CWLA’s 2026 Conference will be a space for those ready to stand, build, and prevail. Join us in shaping what’s next.
CWLA’s 2026 National Conference, The Work Ahead: Practice, Policy, and Possibility, will be held April 20-22, 2026 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
Complete a separate online registration for each person attending the conference. All registrations must be paid in advance of the conference by check, credit card, or signed purchase order authorizing conference registration payment. Onsite registrations must be accompanied by a check or credit card.
Discounts: To receive discounted member registration rates, member agencies’ dues must be up to date.
All payments are due by April 1, 2026. Mail checks payable to Child Welfare League of America with a copy of your registration confirmation to CWLA, P.O. Box 715171, Philadelphia, PA 19171-5171. Purchase orders will be accepted for pre-registration, but your organization’s check must be received by CWLA on or before April 1, 2026, otherwise you will be required to provide another form of payment onsite. We encourage you to make sure payment has been received by CWLA prior to arriving at the conference to avoid an inconvenience onsite. Please submit documentation to your agency early enough to ensure that CWLA receives payment before the conference.
To be eligible for the Early Bird registration rate, your payment must be received within 30 days of ticket order.
Cancelation Policy
Written cancelations received by e-mail to CWLA2026@cwla.org on or before 5:00 pm ET on Friday, March 20, 2026, are entitled to a full refund, less a $75 processing fee. After March 20, 2026, no refunds will be given and no exceptions will be made. No-shows will be invoiced for payment of the full registration.
Substitutions: If you are not able to attend, you may send a substitute from your agency, but CWLA must be notified in advance by email at CWLA2026@cwla.org no later than Friday, April 10, 2026. After April 10, 2026 substitutions may not be honored.