Agenda

Room: Auditorium

Adrien Lewis, CarePortal Founder and President, and special guest Actress Nika King bring “Caring Reimagined” to life.

Room: 206A

This session will explore how strategic funding partnerships can transform kinship care, ensuring that children can remain with family instead of entering the foster system. Attendees will hear firsthand from a funding champion, and County agency leaders, about the impact of financial support in preserving kinship placements. The session will highlight key successes, lessons learned, and practical strategies to engage more partners in this critical work.

Room: 206B

Attentiveness to the care of a pastor and ministry leader’s soul can be overlooked and neglected. How can soul care be prioritized and practiced? Come and find out!

Room: 206C

God has a growth plan for everything he does! While growth is essential to the work we do, it is not automatic! In this session we will discuss five key elements to building an intentional framework for your Area Growth Strategy.

Room: 206D

This workshop will focus on how to successfully set up and manage a proven model of wrap-around support that makes it simple for a church to serve foster, adoptive, kinship or biological caregivers with consistent meals, childcare and prayer. These teams of 5-8 committed and trained volunteers becomes an extended family of support providing practical help such as regular meals, tutoring, childcare, transportation, laundry, yard work, etc ... The roles on the team will be discussed in detail as well as a simple plan for how to recruit and train these volunteers and how to launch and maintain this wrap-around support.

Room: 215 (Chapel)

You know you could help more children and families if you could effectively collaborate with other churches and organizations. But working with others can be a challenge and can sometimes leave you feeling stuck. Let me introduce you to some people, principles, and practices that can make you a better collaborator and make your community a place where more gets done together.

Room: 309

We are tackling racial disproportionality among Black children in foster care as the centerpiece of our effort to reverse the child welfare crisis in our nation. Every year, more than 4 million families come to the brink of the foster system, with more than 400,000 children in the system. At the epicenter of this crisis is the scourge of racial disproportionality. The foster system is Ground Zero for systemic change, including improved racial equity and relationship-based reconciliation, in our nation. Hear a brief synopsis of the history, and from current voices affected by the Child welfare system. Share in a group discussion focused on the path forward in family strengthening and new voices emerging with renewed hope and bright futures for children.

Room: 310

This will be a participatory roundtable reflection on techniques to create spaces where all voices are heard and no good idea goes unoffered. The roundtable facilitators will present the Missouri Coalition for Children's Connected Communities: Thriving Families initiative as a living example of an effort underway to achieve community co-design. Facilitators will model techniques they are currently utilized in MO to create a live co-design experience with session attendees that will generate actionable ideas that will benefit participants and facilitators alike. Facilitation will include individuals with lived expertise.

Room: 311

Learn the many ways CarePortal can support local pregnancy centers with pre-prevention, church engagement and community support.

Room: 312

As displayed in the person of Jesus, God has called us to be people who weep with those who weep and to grieve the brokenness of the world. During this session, we will have a guided time of lament and petition for the families we serve.

Room: 313

Good communication starts with understanding how our brains process information. The brain works in a sequence, starting with the lower, more basic regions and moving up to the complex areas. In this session, we will learn how our emotions, memories, and experiences disrupt this process causing breakdowns in communication because the brain focuses more on survival than logic. By recognizing this, we can adjust our approach and engage others when they are receptive, enhancing clarity in both personal and professional settings.

Room: 315

Latino churches are vibrant, diverse, and deeply rooted in faith and community. But how can we effectively engage them in the work of CarePortal? Join us for a dynamic and culturally immersive session where we’ll explore key insights, challenges, and proven strategies for building meaningful partnerships with Latino congregations. This interactive workshop will feature a panel of experienced leaders who have successfully engaged Latino churches in their regions. Through real-life stories, practical takeaways, and data-driven insights, we’ll uncover what works, what doesn’t, and how we can better serve and collaborate with Latino church communities. Expect an atmosphere full of energy—with Latin music, festive decorations, and delicious snacks—as we savor the flavor of this rich conversation. Whether you're new to working with Latino churches or looking to deepen your connections, this session will equip you with valuable tools and inspiration.

Room: 317

We're passionate about caring for children and families in foster care, and we know what we do like the back of our hands. So when it's time to present to a church, community partners, or potential donors, it's tempting to plug-and-play what we've shared a million times before. But in the process, we forget the one question that should shape everything we share: who is our actual audience, and what matters to them? Come discover a practical framework for analyzing a specific audience and find insights for crafting a pitch that leads them to action.

Room: 318

CarePortal’s CareSharing technology empowers connection with families, organizations, church partners, and requesting agencies with a variety of needs. By partnering together with other organizations in related fields of expertise, we can multiply our efforts to serve more kids and families with excellence without straying from our core mission. This panel discussion will highlight what that looks like!

Room: Lower-Level Courtyard

CarePortal is celebrating 10 years of impact! Gather for a night of joy, connection, and celebration with sweet treats and great company. This special evening honors a decade of transforming lives together. 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Lower-Level Courtyard.

Room: Auditorium

Two visionary speakers, Erik Dellenback and Sarah Yourgrau, will inspire us to rethink how we approach care and connection.

206A

The pace of the world often demands more of us than we can give. Even the best leaders become weary and burnt out if they don’t take the time to rest, recover, and refill. We cannot continuously pour into others when our own cup is empty. In this session, you’ll learn simple practices to help you care for yourself while you care for others.

Room: 206B

Launching a new network is a big job, and some communities are more challenging than others. There are a lot of details to cover! If you are planning to open a new market and are looking for effective strategies and tools to develop the care-ecosystem that God is calling you to, this is a workshop for you. In this breakout, you'll be introduced to tools and tips that will help you and your team develop scope, manage network development, and mobilize churches to connect with their neighbors.

Room: 206C

This session will help organizations understand how to develop and market merch for their teams, volunteers and fundraising. Learn terms and tips to improve communication with vendors and gain insight into consumer behavior and how to create and market products that sell! The end of the session will include design feedback so bring your ideas!

Room: 206D

Come and learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national organization dedicated to providing beds for children. During this session we will provide information on how an individual or a team can use Sleep in Heavenly Peace in a local context to provide beds for the children in their communities.

Room: 215

One of the most amazing parts of CarePortal Conference 2024 was not only the sneak peak of Possum Trot, but the ability to hear from Bishop Martin and First Lady Donna, and from Josh and Rebekah Weigel (from the main stage and during a breakout session). Network Leaders and strategic partners alike left even more invested in ensuring the success of the Possum Trot film, and we've certainly seen the incredible results and heard the amazing stories of their dedication! Last year, we invited participants to "Possum Trot: Behind the Scenes" to learn more and be a part of the movement, and they responded with an overwhelming "yes!" This year, we invite participants to join Nika, Rebekah, and Joe in a breakout session called "Possum Trot: Behind the Movement" to share the God stories, to celebrate what God has done, and to explore how you can use Possum Trot as a take-action asset for your own community.  The impact is just beginning! 

Room: 309

AI is a hot topic and triggers a wide range of responses. This session is intended to explore what's really going on, discuss the areas and strategies that go too far, and share best practices that can actually help network leaders use their time more efficiently and stay organized.

Room: 310

What if doing good is more than we’ve imagined? History—from residential schools to slavery to the colonization of Mexico—continues to shape the way we serve and engage across Turtle Island (North America). Swept under the rug, even our best efforts can unintentionally reinforce generational trauma. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Let’s explore how CarePortal can be a catalyst for reconciliation—moving beyond charity into meaningful, equitable relationships. If you’ve ever wondered how CarePortal can support systemic change and create opportunities for practical reconciliation, this conversation is for you.

Room: 311

In this workshop inspired by Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game, participants will explore how adopting an infinite mindset can transform leadership and drive long-term success. Through engaging discussions and practical exercises, this session empowers leaders to shift focus from short-term wins to enduring impact, fostering resilience, collaboration, and sustainable growth in their teams and organizations.

Room: 312

Learn about publicly available data and examples of how this data can be used to inform community members. Hear about how a national foundation (Casey Family Programs) partners with people in communities, some of whom have been impacted by the child welfare system, to connect with resources (including CarePortal) and ensure children and families have what they need, when they need it, in order to thrive. This session will show what is possible when we see each other as people and deserving of support.

Room: 313

Schools often have a pulse on what’s going on inside a community, especially when it comes to vulnerable children. That’s one reason why they make important requesting agencies in a CarePortal Network! This panel discussion includes a School District from Missouri, a Regional Manager from Florida, and a Church Leader from New York all discussing their perspectives on the importance of making meaningful connections through school-entered requests using the CarePortal platform.

Room: 315

This panel discussion will dive deeper into the ways that various child-serving professionals (requesting agencies) who use the CarePortal platform to serve their clients have seen connections made that lead to holistic, community care.

Room: 317

How do we create the space to zoom out and think strategically about our work when we are always in the weeds? This is a problem solving working session where you will identify a strategic priority in your work and will spend time in the session working with your peers to build an action plan. The principles, mental models, and tools covered in this session offer a powerful framework for addressing your priorities in ways that are deeply aligned with the values and goals of your organization.

Room: 318

Life in Limbo® is an interactive workshop by Fostering Great Ideas® that gives individuals that opportunity. In this role play about foster care, participants step into the shoes of birth parents, foster parents, and the displaced children, learning what it feels like to live their lives.

Room: 206A

This session addresses the issue of volunteer burnout and what you can do to help slow it from happening.

Room: 206B

When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with someone in your community about their lived experiences with poverty and the child welfare system?

Poverty in our communities is often linked to systemic barriers such as incarceration, addiction, mental illness, lack of education, and racial inequity. Yet, behind these challenges are human beings, each with a unique story to share.

At the Table is an intimate event designed to bring together people from diverse backgrounds for purposeful conversations. In a supportive environment, attendees have the opportunity to listen, learn, and connect with one another. The goal of this experience is to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and foster meaningful connections.

During the event, participants will engage in 20-minute one-on-one or small-group conversations with local residents and emerging leaders. These conversations will provide personal insights that help inform and catalyze relationships to improve your community.

Think Tank, Inc., known for the Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE), also offers a range of immersive experiences and resources, including a National At the Table Day. These resources are designed to bridge economic divides and create pathways for people with lived experience to co-lead solutions to poverty.

If you're looking to go beyond meeting immediate needs to building meaningful, lasting connections, we invite you to join us!

Room: 206C

You did it! You met the CarePortal need, talked to the family, and now they want to get involved in your church. But now the family is asking for more things, the children are running around the sanctuary, and your congregation members are not adjusting well. This workshop will go over a few tips and tricks to creating those meaningful and lasting connections with families. We will start with having the appropriate posture through a family systems approach, creating a youth group for inner city youth, developing a system for community care, connecting with partners and resources, and building a vision for the church that includes the community.

Room: 215 (Chapel)

This breakout will provide practical principles to help approach potential church partners with clarity and confidence, as well as discuss insights for helping overcome perceived barriers of entry while cultivating long-term, trust-based relationships in ministry together. Jason will share tools for resourcing, equipping, and activating churches to see their role fully realized in the vital work we do.

Room: 309

Participants will develop a plan to make their work life more fulfilling and productive by exploring the three Pillars of Executive Therapy. These include: “Dancing with Monsters,” which involves identifying and overcoming tailored threats that disrupt workflow; “Mood First Productivity,” which emphasizes following the momentum of one’s mood and mental state to optimize productivity; and “Anchor Point Technology Relationships,” which examines how technology and tools—through the CTEP framework (Capture, Track, Express, and Perspective)—can enhance productivity and build confidence.

Room: 310

Effective collaboration with local child welfare agencies is essential when it comes to implementing CarePortal and building connections with the children and families they serve. Yet we sometimes face barriers and challenges in working together, especially when it comes to government-run child welfare agencies. In this breakout session we will share best practices and practical strategies that will help you build and maintain strong relationships with your local child welfare agency. Through real-life examples, you will leave with ideas to improve communication & enhance collaboration with, as well as better support child welfare staff.

Room: 311

We will discuss practical methods that focus on community building, resulting in unity creation and holistic family care systems that work!

Room: 312

Together we will examine narratives and perceptions currently held, and be challenged to approach this space with a posture of humility, learning, and humanity.

Room: 313

As ministry leaders, we spend a great deal of time caring for others but often neglect the important work of taking care of ourselves. In this workshop, we will share and discuss as a group how can better care for ourselves so we can better care for others.

Room: 315

Arturo explains about how the worlds’ leading brands Apple, Nike, the NBA build Brand Love by telling stories that resonate with their customers and building emotional connection. Arturo shares the strategies and techniques used by the best brands in the world to build a loyal customer base. He shares brilliant advertising work from his career to bring the point home.

Room: 317

CarePortal is passionate about the local church being at the “point of care” for every request that goes into the platform, because we believe that “Connection Changes Everything!” This panel discussion features all “CarePortal Church of the Year” award recipients throughout the years, coming together to discuss the power of meaningful connections and the best practices they use to make them.

Room: 318

This session will be a behind the scenes look at the year and half long strategy of building momentum to launch a county-wide movement to equip and empower the Church to Care for Every Family.

Room: 206D

In a time when attention is fleeting, the most powerful stories are often the simplest ones. This session invites you to explore the art of six-word storytelling: a tool to reflect, connect, and highlight the moments that matter. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll create your own six-word story, gaining insight into how small words can carry big impact. Walk away with a new appreciation for storytelling as a bridge to empathy in a world that’s always rushing ahead.

Room: Auditorium

This session will highlight leaders who are reimagining how leadership in different sectors can drive meaningful change for the most vulnerable.

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Connection Time is a chance to connect with others in your zone, led by your Zone Leader. Share experiences, build relationships, and collaborate with those serving alongside you. This time is designed to strengthen connections and encourage meaningful conversations that enhance our collective impact.

Room: The Midland Theatre

Join us for the CarePortal Celebration Banquet at the historic Midland Theater! Enjoy a special night of dinner, recognition, and celebration of the incredible work of CarePortal network partners as we honor those making a lasting impact in their communities.

Room: Auditorium

Start your day with Heart & Hands, a powerful time of worship and reflection led by Bishop Aaron Blake, one of CarePortal’s forefathers. Through worship and a heartfelt devotion, you'll be inspired, challenged, and equipped to live out the mission of caring for the vulnerable.

Room: 206A

Is your website effectively reaching your audience? Learn the top five best practices every nonprofit leader should pay attention to in order to make the most of their online presence.

Room: 206B

Prayer is the inexhaustible resource that God has given to bring relief, blessing, and spiritual power to the hurting family. In this session we will discuss how prayer can help prevent ministry fatigue/burnout; provide focus for the purpose; and the many ways in which the pray-er is blessed.

Room: 206C

In this session, I will be discussing how the power of connection can change the course of someone's life. As humans, we are not meant to navigate the world alone; however, that is the reality for many people in our world today. By focusing on transformative relationships over transactional relationships, we can begin to see a shift in our communities.

Room: 206D

Launching a county in CarePortal takes time, strategy, and dedication- not to mention courage, humility, and excellence. Launching an entire state in CarePortal is a culmination of lessons learned, strategic initiatives, united teamwork, and God working in ways only He can, doing more than we could ever ask or imagine! Come and hear the statewide stories of the two states where CarePortal is launched in every county, how that happened, what we have learned, and how you can launch every county for the sake of every child, too.

Room: 215

Are you looking to make a real impact on your community? Do you want to connect with children and their families? Then you won’t want to miss this session. During Made to Connect: Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerable Families, you’ll learn how to create a safe, welcoming, and loving environment for struggling children and families in your community. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of trauma and practical tools for working with kids who have experienced it.

Room: 309

Active Community Gatherings are incredible opportunities to bring a network of people together who have a heart to serve vulnerable children and families, a willingness to collaborate with each other, and an effective way to do both: CarePortal. In this session, attendees will hear of different ways Network Leaders from California, Virginia, Indiana, and Kansas are hosting these regular gatherings and using the influence and platform the meetings provide to support the well-being of children and families in their communities!

Room: 310

Fundraising is often a topic that can generate unease and uncertainty, but it is also an imperative part of serving our communities! This session brings together experts in resourcing from across several organizations in a panel discussion designed to highlight the best practices in fundraising. From making “the ask” to submitting formal proposals, attendees will hear tips, tactics, and perspectives from foundation leaders, grant writers, donors, and consultants who have long, successful histories in this field, and leave with foundational practices to confidently bring back to their own local contexts.

Room: 311

Come and learn from past CarePortal “Network of the Year” award recipients as they share tips and tricks to growing and engaging the entire community in using the CarePortal platform for the sake of the child.

Room: 313

Utilizing local volunteers to help manage the ecosystem of care can be a game changer. Learn how you can recruit, train, and utilize the role of a Community Coordinator in your communities.

Room: 315

Leaders from The Global Orphan Project will share the principles, tools and resources of the Strong Family framework which is active in over 5 countries around the world. Strong Family is a local church based, community-driven approach that empowers vulnerable families by equipping them with the knowledge, tools and support to move from survival to flourishing. If you are a leader working in developing countries and desire a more holistic approach to strengthening families, this is for you.

Room: 317

The most powerful way to combat poverty, heal from trauma, and unlock a longer, healthier, and happier life is through relationships. In this discussion, we will explore how Positive Childhood Experiences, social connections, and economic mobility intersect to shape our well-being. We will also dive into the critical role of social determinants of health, and address the growing epidemic of loneliness in the U.S., as highlighted in the Surgeon General’s Advisory. By the end of our time together, you will feel inspired and empowered, knowing that communities have the strength and potential to be the solution to many of society’s greatest challenges.

Room: 318

This session will explain parishes, dioceses, Catholic Charities, Catholic volunteer groups, and recommend the most effective ways to engage and partner with them.

Room: 312

This breakout session will equip participants with insights and practical strategies to support families impacted by incarceration. Attendees will learn how to break down barriers of stigma, foster meaningful connections, and reflect Christ’s unconditional love in their communities. We will explore the unique challenges faced by these families and provide tools to help churches and ministries become sources of hope and healing. Additionally, participants will discover how Angel Tree Christmas can be a powerful way to share the love of Jesus by providing gifts and encouragement to children with incarcerated parents during the holiday season.

Room: Auditorium

Chris and Lauren Tomlin will share their passion for caring for the most vulnerable, inspiring others to take action through personal stories and transformative initiatives. In the same session, Maggie Lin will also speak on the power of compassion in reimagining care, offering her own unique perspective and experiences.