2024 Annual Convening
DECEMBER 8-10, 2024
SPARC members to strategized for upcoming advocacy efforts, connected with leading experts in the field, and shared insights from the past year.
Agenda
The Sunday evening reception was held in Zelda’s Parlor on the first floor of the Hotel Indigo. All Monday and Tuesday sessions were held in the Opportunity Room on the second floor of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Office.
Annie E. Casey Foundation Office
503 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD
Hotel Indigo
24 West Franklin Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 625-6200
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET
Informal Reception for All Convening Attendees
Relax after a day of travel to enjoy light refreshments, drinks, and great company with SPARC members and Partnership staff. Later, if you are still hungry, you can grab some dinner at the hotel or go out on the town to enjoy a meal at one of Baltimore’s many restaurants.
Welcoming Remarks:
Nora Collins-Mandeville – American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and SPARC Leadership Council Member
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET
Name Tag Pickup and Breakfast
All attendees are required to sign in at the front desk when entering the Annie E. Casey Foundation building. The front desk staff will have your name, and you can pick up your name tag and material on the second floor. Want to connect to wi-fi when you arrive? The network is “AECF – Guest” and the password is jimcasey.
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM ET
Welcome
Elissa Hyne – Partnership for America’s Children
Todd Lloyd – Annie E. Casey Foundation
Marquita Little NuMan – Partnership for America’s Children
9:10 AM - 10:10 AM ET
KEYNOTE / Reimagining Child Welfare: Confronting Racism and Advancing Equity
This presentation explores the critical need to address structural racism within the child welfare system. We will examine how historical and systemic inequities have shaped current practices, leading to disparities that disproportionately affect children and families of color. By recognizing these challenges, we can identify and implement innovative solutions to create a more equitable and effective system. Join us as we discuss strategies for policy reform, community engagement, and the adoption of culturally responsive practices to transform child welfare and ensure justice for all children and families.
Ernestine Briggs-King, PhD – Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University
10:10 AM - 10:15 AM ET
Break
10:15 AM - 10:50 AM ET
Looking to the Future: SPARC in 2025
SPARC has the benefit of a leadership council of state advocates who help set the vision and goals for the network. During this session, they’ll share some of the things they are most excited about for SPARC in 2025 and engage participants in discussing how SPARC can support their advocacy in the new year
Facilitator:
Beth Jordan – SPARC
SPARC Leadership Council Members:
Crystal Charles – Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (NY)
Nora Collins-Mandeville – American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Lesley Kelley – Voices for Georgia’s Children
Rachael Miller – Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Robin Rosenberg – Florida’s Children First
10:50 AM - 11:00 AM ET
Break
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM ET
Economic and Concrete Supports for Families: New Evidence to Support Advocacy for Investments in Child Welfare Prevention
This session will focus on updates to the evidence of economic and concrete supports and evidence-based policymaking. Additionally, there will be exploration of various opportunities states have to leverage evidence and build momentum around concrete and economic supports to alleviate stress on families and prevent the need for child welfare system involvement. Given the shifting federal landscape, public-private partnerships and public support for state investment in prevention will be included in the discussion as critical components to ensuring children and families get the support they need for safety and stability.
Clare Anderson – Chapin Hall
Melissa Hackett – Maine Children’s Alliance
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET
Federal Updates and Opportunities
This session will provide an update on the federal policy landscape, including a report on remaining legislation in 2024 and views about the emerging federal landscape in 2025. Speakers will share information about a new advocacy hub being designed to promote opportunities for state advocates to engage in targeted ways in national policy reform and advocacy. We’ll discuss how SPARC partners can engage with the hub where there is alignment and interest.
Hope Cooper – True North Group
Todd Lloyd – Annie E. Casey Foundation
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Mapping the Foster-Care-to-Prison Pipeline
This session will include an overview of the national prevalence of dual system involvement among youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. It will also cover Voices for Georgia’s Children’s recent research and proposed advocacy priorities on Dual-System Involved/Impacted Youth. This will include a discussion of systemic barriers to effective identification and treatment of dual-system youth in Georgia.
Presenters from Washington State will introduce their Foster-Care-to-Prison Pipeline work, emphasizing:
Why they began the project (i.e., what they set out to accomplish);
Why they organized and operated under a ‘Participatory Research’ model; and
Hallmark discoveries over the course, and in the wake, of the project.
They will also facilitate conversation about the value of lived experience; lived experience as a locus of inter-generational Community; and in-Community development of lived expertise.
Lesley Kelley – Voices for Georgia’s Children and SPARC Leadership Council Member
Arthur Longworth – TeamChild (WA)
Yvonne-Monique Aviva – Friends of Youth (WA)
Marshelle Jordon – Independent Lived-Expert Consultant (WA)
Lisa Pilnik – Child & Family Policy Associates
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM ET
Break
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM ET
Celebrating Progress and Planning for What Comes Next: A Discussion on Kinship Care State Policy
During this panel, experts from Child Trends and Generations United will explore ways state policy has been changing to better support kinship caregivers and where critical challenges persist. Hear their thoughts on what areas are ripe for advocacy and change. Be ready to share your own advocacy challenges, successes, and areas of interest with the group.
Jaia Peterson Lent – Generations United
Megan Fischer – Child Trends
Karin Malm – Child Trends
Beth Jordan – SPARC
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM ET
Day One Wrap Up
Crystal Charles – Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (NY) and SPARC Leadership Council Member
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
Break
6:00 PM - 6:15 PM ET
Gather for Transport to Dinner
Meet in the Indigo Hotel Lobby at 6:00 pm where we will gather and take transportation to La Tavola.
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM ET
Phillips Seafood Restaurant / 601 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
This is a time to connect, celebrate, laugh, and have fun together!
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET
Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM ET
Day Two Opening
Robin Rosenberg – Florida’s Children First and SPARC Leadership Council Member
9:10 AM - 10:40 AM ET
Advocating for Housing Solutions for Youth and Families at Risk of Child Welfare System Involvement
Housing and economic security are crucial to family and youth well- being, but as America’s affordable housing crisis unfolds, affordable housing options seem to be increasingly more difficult for parents, unaccompanied minors, and young adults to access. In this session we will offer concrete solutions to help advocates tap resources at the national, state, and local level to grow affordable housing options in their communities. Using HUD’s youth written, on demand housing voucher distribution mechanism, the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, as an example, panelists will help participants learn how to fill gaps in their homeless and affordable housing continuum and synchronize child welfare resources, economic supports, and housing services to create a platform for families and youth to thrive. The enabling legislation, the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Amendments Act and HUD’s Family Unification Program vouchers for families will also be covered.
Ruth Anne White – National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
Jamole Callahan – National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
Amy Rose – Voices for Vermont's Children
10:40 AM - 10:50 AM ET
Break
10:50 AM - 12:20 PM ET
Mini Sessions: Preventative Legal Advocacy & Education
PLA in Action: An Overview of Preventive Legal Advocacy Programs & the Potential to Transform the System
Preventive Legal Advocacy and Pre-Petition programs are the result of strategically targeted efforts to support families through upstream civil legal services that address the social determinants of health and safely reduce instances of unnecessary child welfare system involvement. This session will provide a brief overview of existing preventive legal advocacy programs and the opportunity to leverage indigent legal services to help keep families together.
Education Advocacy for Children and Youth in Foster Care
This session will provide advocates with an overview of:
Why there is a critical need to focus on education advocacy as part of SPARC members’ work on supporting children and youth in foster care;
Data outcomes for students in care;
The legal framework that guides this advocacy; and
Strategies for incorporating education advocacy into your organization’s priorities moving forward.
Emilie Cook – Barton Child Law and Policy Center
Kathleen McNaught – BABA Center on Children and the Law
12:20 PM - 12:30 PM ET
Closing Remarks
Rachael Miller – Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and SPARC Leadership Council Member
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Grab & Go Lunch
Hotel & Transportation
Hotel Indigo
24 West Franklin Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 625-6200
Franklin Street Garage
15 West Franklin Street
Baltimore, MD
Directions
The Hotel Indigo and the Franklin Street Parking Garage are both located on West Franklin Street in Baltimore, just one block from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Office at 503 N. Charles Street.
From BWI (approx. 13 mi/20 km): Take I-195 to 95 North. Then take 95 North to Exit 53 (Inner Harbor). Turn right on Pratt St and go about four blocks to turn left on Charles St. Head north and turn left on Franklin where the hotel will be on the right. The parking garage is on the left.
From Baltimore Penn Station Amtrak (approx. 0.8 mi/1.29 km): Head south on N. Charles Street about 8 blocks. The Annie E. Casey Foundation building will be on the left. Turn right onto E. Franklin Street, and the hotel will be on the right.
Hotel Information
The Hotel's check-in time is 4:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00AM. Guests are permitted to check in early or check out later subject to room availability. Baggage will be stored at no charge for early arrivals and late departures. At the time of check-in, each guest will be required to present a major credit card, on which Hotel may place a hold or process a prepayment in the amount of the guest's estimated charges.
Parking Information
Self-Parking is available in The Franklin Street Garage, which is situated near the historic Mount Vernon district of Baltimore and is close to many restaurants and bars. The garage entrance is located on the left-hand side of W Franklin St, just west of N Charles St, and is easily accessible off of I-83.
The garage is open and staffed Sunday throught Thursday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Friday from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM; and Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM. There is a height restriction of 6.5 ft.
Drive-up Rates:
Up to 1 hour: $7.00
Up to 3 hours: $10.00
Up to 12 hours: $12.00
Up to 24 hours: $14.00
Weekday Evenings (4PM to 6AM) $6.00
Weekends (6AM Saturday through 6AM Monday: $6.00
For a comprehensive list of airport transportation options visit: http://www.bwiairport.com/en/travel/ground-transportation
Additional Information
About
The purpose of the 2024 SPARC Convening is to provide SPARC partners with the space to connect and network with each other and key stakeholders to build and deepen peer-to-peer relationships; the opportunity to hear from leading experts on topics that shape the child welfare landscape; and the chance to share information and strategies for achieving policy change that benefits children, youth, and families involved in child welfare.
Wi-Fi
Network: AECF – Guest
Password: jimcasey
Health and Safety
Although we are not requiring participants to wear a mask, we will have surgical and N95 masks available. If you are not feeling well or are showing COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home. If you become symptomatic while at the conference, please take a COVID-19 test and stay in your hotel room if the test comes back positive.
Expenses and Reimbursement
SPARC will reimburse up to $250 of travel costs for one person per SPARC member organization. This does not include funders or national partners. Speakers will be covered and/or reimbursed as per their arrangements with SPARC. Travel costs include airfare, train fare, mileage at the IRS rate of 67 cents/mile (if you are traveling using your personal car), rental car fee, and parking. Origin, destination, miles traveled, and purpose must be included for mileage reimbursements.
The Travel Reimbursement Form should be submitted to the Partnership for America’s Children after the SPARC convening. Receipts are required. Please compile the form and all receipts into one PDF document. All reimbursement requests must be received no later than 14 days after the event. Checks will be made payable to the organization unless otherwise requested.