Third Branch eNews

County, tribal, and state professionals from across Wisconsin gathered in Wisconsin Dells for the biennial Conference on Child Welfare and the Courts, held September 24–26. The multidisciplinary event brought together child welfare and court professionals to share strategies for improving outcomes for children and families.

The conference is co-hosted by the Children's Court Improvement Program (CCIP), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS).

This year's theme, Preserving Connections to Family, Culture, and Community, emphasized the importance of maintaining family and cultural bonds in child welfare practice. Judge Brittany C. Grayson, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, and Attorney Sarah Henery of DCF co-chaired the program. Their knowledge and expertise inspired conference-goers to return to their communities with enhanced skills and enthusiasm. One participant noted, "It reminded me of the times I had made an impact in a child's life by going the extra step, and other times I could have done so much more."

A total of 624 people attended, including 427 in person and 197 virtually. Participants represented 58 counties and eight Tribal Nations. Conference registrants were encouraged to attend as a multidisciplinary team in order to best understand the complex challenges that families experience within their respective communities. One attendee said, "It was refreshing to see professionals from different parts of the system who seemed to get along and could understand the viewpoints of the other side."

Conference sessions featured state and national speakers who shared personal stories and explored new approaches to redefining family connections and preserving emotional bonds. The event concluded with six concurrent seminar offerings on the final day, providing attendees with practical tools to apply in their communities.

The next Conference on Child Welfare and the Courts will be held in the fall of 2027. Additional details will be available from the Children's Court Improvement Program.