myBama
Continuing Education Lifelong Learning Social Work Conference

Social Work Conference

Children smiling

25th Annual Fall Social Work Conference

October 8-9, 2026

Conference Overview

The Annual Fall Social Work Conference provides an opportunity to bring national speakers and the latest research to child welfare practitioners in Alabama.  Through the Title IV-E partnership between the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Higher Education Consortium on Child Welfare, The University of Alabama School of Social Work hosts the conference each year, focusing on a different aspect of public child welfare.

The many workshops will continue the discussion of issues related to child well-being and workforce well-being. This conference is designed with the public child welfare workforce in mind, but would be beneficial to anyone working with at-risk children and their families—school social workers, therapists, foster parents, and child-placing agencies, to name a few.

DateOctober 8-9, 2026
FeeEarly Bird Price – $175 (until Sept. 18th)
Standard Price – $225
LocationMarriott Birmingham

2026 Agenda Coming Soon!

The Fall Social Work conference is planned to meet the various requirements for professional development. As these continuing education (CE) applications are approved, we will update this page to reflect the number of approved CE hours available.

  • Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners: 9.5 Contact Hours
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Date/TimeSessionsSpeaker(s)
7:30 – 8:30 amRegistration & Breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 amWelcome
8:45 – 10:15 amKeynote
10:15 – 10:30 amBeverage Break
10:30 – 11:30 amConcurrent Sessions
11:30–1:00 pmLunch on your own
1:00 – 2:00 pmConcurrent Sessions
2:00 – 2:15 pmBreak
2:15 – 3:15 pmConcurrent Sessions
3:15 – 3:30 pmRefreshment Break
3:30 – 5:00 pmKeynote:

5:00 – 6:30 pmMeet and Mingle
Friday, October 9, 2026
Date/TimeSessionsSpeaker(s)
7:00 – 8:00 amBreakfast
8:00 – 9:00 amConcurrent Sessions
TBD
9:00 – 9:15 amBeverage Break
9:15 – 10:15 amConcurrent Sessions
TBD
10:15 – 10:30 amRefreshment Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pmKeynote:

12:15 pmClosing RemarksKristy Holt, MSW

25th Annual Fall Social Work Keynote Speakers TBD Soon

Conference Location and Lodging

Rooms will be available at the Birmingham Marriott

Rate: $169.00 per night, plus 17.5% local taxes (subject to change)

Workshop Registration

Early bird registration is now open! The early bird price to attend the conference is $175.00 until September 18, 2025. After September 18, 2026, the conference participation fee is $225.00.

The University of Alabama Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) No. 7285. The Annual Fall Social Work Conference has been approved for 9.5 Contact hours.

The conference fees include handout materials and a CEU certificate. Treasury regulations may permit an income tax deduction for educational expenses (registration fees, travel, meals, and lodging) undertaken to maintain or improve professional skills.

The University of Alabama is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please submit your accommodation request at least 30 calendar days in advance of the program date by emailing professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.

Special Accommodation Requests

The University of Alabama is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodation of physical and/or dietary needs should be made at least 30 calendar days in advance of the program date. Please email your request to professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.

Need our STAARS Vendor Number? Please use VC000118827 for UA Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.

A portion of the invoice amount for this program will go to the Capstone Lifelong Learning Foundation to support activities of The University of Alabama and the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.

Cancellation Policy

A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or combine class sections, to limit registration, or to change instructors. Contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu to cancel your registration. View the OTIDE Cancellation Policy.

We invite those interested in presenting at the 2025 Fall Social Work Conference to submit a proposal for review by our Conference Planning Committee. Speaker proposals are evaluated objectively with emphasis on the following criteria (listed in order of significance):

  • Degree to which the proposed session meets the conference/program objectives
  • Desirability of the topic
  • Speaker’s presentation skills and experience

Proposals must contain and convey sufficient detail to allow our Conference Planning Committee to understand how the proposed session will support the conference objectives. Selection is competitive, so you must submit a compelling and complete proposal.

Submission Details

Submission Deadline is July 18, 2026

We will consider no more than two proposals from each speaker. Please complete a separate application for each proposal. We will not consider incomplete submissions.

Length of Presentation

Presentations are in person, 60 minutes, including 10 minutes for questions.

Presenter Contact Information

Provide contact information for each presenter/co-presenter.  Please be as accurate as possible, as this will be posted on the conference website, program and app.

Area of Focus

Presentations should fall into one of the following categories:

Workforce Development, Best Practice/Evidence Based Practice, Leadership, Supervision, Mental Health, Ethics, Substance Abuse, Abuse and Neglect, or a Current Hot Topic.

Presentation Description and Learning Outcomes

Presentation Abstract–no more than 300 words

Provide a brief description of the presentation.  This will be printed in the conference program exactly as submitted.  Maximum length is 60 words.

Use these tips to help create an effective description of your session:

  • Highlight how the presentation will help an attendee solve a problem, overcome a challenge or launch a new initiative, and how what they will learn will directly impact their work/life.
  • Create action-oriented learning objectives.
  • Set accurate expectations. Clearly describe what the session will cover and highlight the learning activities an attendee can expect.
  • Use active tense. For example, change “Strategies to improve child welfare will be examined” to “Learn strategies to improve child welfare.”
  • Avoid repeating the title in the description and phrases like “In this presentation” or “The presenters will.”

Additionally, please specify up to three expected learning outcomes for attendees using measurable action verbs.  These outcomes should be tailored to the audience members. Maximum length is 100 words.

Biographical Information

Offer a brief description of your qualifications that relate to the presentation topic. Maximum length is 150 words. At a minimum, please include:

  • Name
  • Education
  • Current position
  • Certifications and designations

This will be posted in the conference app, exactly as provided.

Proposal Acceptance

The conference planning committee has the sole authority and responsibility for selecting the topics and content of all educational programming it delivers.

We will email a notification of acceptance by July 31, 2025.

Honoraria

Our speakers receive a full complimentary conference registration. Travel, lodging and meal expenses are your responsibility.

Submit a proposal

The University of Alabama School of Social Work and the Alabama Department of Human Resources invite you to exhibit at our 25th Annual Fall Social Work Conference. The conference will be held on October 8-9, 2025. The conference will be held at the Marriott Birmingham in Birmingham, AL.

With an anticipated 350 social workers in attendance, this conference offers an outstanding opportunity to showcase your program and/or organization.  Please register no later than September 30, 2025.

Bronze Sponsor – $300
  • An exhibit table
  • One booth attendant
  • Acknowledgment in the printed program
Silver Sponsor – $500
  • One exhibit table
  • One booth attendant
  • A 1/4 page ad in the printed program
TimeSessionLocationSpeaker(s)
7:45am – 8:45amRegistration and BreakfastLobby of Birmingham/Central
8:45am – 9:00amWelcome and Announcements
9:00am – 10:00amArtificial Intelligence:  Your Path to the Community of TomorrowBirmingham RoomDawn Horn, Lee Laska, Jason Miller – University of Alabama
10:00am – 10:30amBreak(Move to Classes)
10:30 am – 12:00pmYear 1

Classroom Introductions

Retail is Community Development for Your City		Birmingham RoomLacey Bacchus
12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch on Your Own
1:30 pm – 3:00 pmTourism as Community DevelopmentBirmingham RoomJosh Rivers, Jasmine Rainey
3:00 pm – 3:15 pmBreak and Class Picture
3:15 pm – 4:30 pmMultiple Sessions
Newtonia –A Real-World SimulationNichols RoomJamie Dykes

Amanda Bergeron
Marketing Your CommunityBirmingham RoomJimmy Hart
5:00 – 6:00 pmSocial Meetup:

Networking at a Legends Bistro		Hotel Capstone
Gold Sponsor–$700
  • Two exhibit tables
  • Two booth attendants
  • A 1/2 page ad in the printed program
TimeSessionLocationSpeaker(s)
7:45am – 8:45amRegistration and BreakfastLobby of Birmingham/Central
8:45am – 9:00amWelcome and Announcements
9:00am – 10:00amArtificial Intelligence:  Your Path to the Community of TomorrowBirmingham RoomDawn Horn, Lee Laska, Jason Miller – University of Alabama
10:00am – 10:30amBreak(Move to Classes)
10:30 am – 12:00pmYear 1

Classroom Introductions

Retail is Community Development for Your City		Birmingham RoomLacey Bacchus
12:00 pm – 1:30 pmLunch on Your Own
1:30 pm – 3:00 pmTourism as Community DevelopmentBirmingham RoomJosh Rivers, Jasmine Rainey
3:00 pm – 3:15 pmBreak and Class Picture
3:15 pm – 4:30 pmMultiple Sessions
Newtonia –A Real-World SimulationNichols RoomJamie Dykes

Amanda Bergeron
Marketing Your CommunityBirmingham RoomJimmy Hart
5:00 – 6:00 pmSocial Meetup:

Networking at a Legends Bistro		Hotel Capstone

Questions about the event?

Contact Doreena Mink for more information.

Our Mailing Address:

The University of Alabama
Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning
Box 870388
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0398