2026 Illinois CASA State Conference
At the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
201 Broadway, Normal, IL 61761
Conference: April 24, 2026 & Staff Day: April 23, 2026
CALL FOR PRESENTERS
Please click the button to apply to be a speaker at our 2026 State Conference in April
Conference Day needs topics directed toward staff, volunteers, community partners, etc.
Examples of that are:
- Trauma-informed advocacy
- Cultural humility and equity in advocacy
- Court report writing and courtroom advocacy
- Supporting youth aging out of care
- Mental health and well-being of youth in care
- Preventing volunteer burnout
- Diversity in the child welfare system
- Artificial intelligence and advocacy
- Understanding gangs and recruitment
- Human trafficking awareness
- The impact of social media on youth
- How parental addiction affects children
- Supporting LGBTQ+ youth in care
- The foster care to juvenile justice pipeline
- Spotting strengths and helping youth build coping skills.
- Education advocacy
Staff Day needs topics directed toward local program staff, Executive Directors, and Board members.
Examples of that are:
- Volunteer recruitment and retention
- Building community partnerships
- Fund development and grant writing basics
- Program evaluation and measuring impact
- Roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards
- Fundraising and donor engagement for CASA sustainability
- Strategic planning for program growth
- Storytelling and ambassador roles for CASA in the community
