45th National Child Welfare Law Conference

2022: Bridging Theory to Practice: Learning & Unlearning to Drive Effective Advocacy

Together we are Promoting Excellence, Building Community, Advancing Justice.

The theme of this year’s conference is Bridging Theory to Practice: Learning and Unlearning to Drive Effective Advocacy. The concept of “unlearning” emerged from our closing plenary last year as we discussed dismantling racist structures in the child welfare and intersecting systems. Unlearning bias and business as usual is a process that may make us uncomfortable, but which also comes with reflection and knowledge critical to transformation. To drive effective advocacy for children, youth, parents, and families, we must lean into this process of unlearning and learning with open minds.

These continue to be trying times but know this — each and every one of you can make a meaningful impact. We thank our expert faculty for providing us the tools, strategies, and techniques we need to serve children, parents, families, and kin — and we thank all of you for your commitment to this work. You inspire and motivate us!

View the program from this conference as a PDF.

Once again, the top leaders in child welfare law will come together — onsite and online!


This continues to be a critical time for community, information-sharing, and dialogue as we redefine advocacy while recovering from a public health crisis and supporting a movement to end racism and bias in child welfare. NACC is excited about the return of onsite gatherings while providing an alternative for attendees who need or prefer an online event. Join us!

Conference Logistics


The Hotel

We are pleased to have our conference at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in beautiful Baltimore Inner Harbor, Maryland. Onsite attendance at the Marriott Baltimore requires agreement with NACC’s COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols.

Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

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NACC Upcoming Conferences


The National Association of Counsel for Children has held a national conference every year since our our founding in 1977. Our conferences are a time for community, information-sharing, and dialogue as we redefine advocacy and support a movement to end racism and bias in child welfare. Join us!