Call for proposals
We are excited to announce the Call for Proposals for the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference, titled From Separation to Solidarity: Building Community, Healing, and Learning through Struggle. TThe 2026 in-person conference will be held in Scottsdale AZ over 2 ½ days (April 20th to noon April 22nd).
The theme invites us to move beyond separation—whether from incarceration or immigration-related detention and deportation—toward solidarity, incorporating healing-centered approaches and spaces for reflection, fostering networking, relationship-building, and transformative justice. We seek proposals that center diverse voices, especially those with lived experience (youth, parents, caregivers), those that represent diverse communities, and those that honor inclusion, participatory leadership, and transparency about learning through challenges as well as successes.
We invite submissions for:
- 30-minute presentations
- 60-minute workshops
- 60–90-minute panels
Proposals should align with one (or more) of the following three tracks, infused with this year’s focus on healing-centered practices, building connection, engaging underrepresented communities, sharing struggles alongside strategies, and fostering collective action.
Programming
We welcome innovative programs and practices that support healing incarceration related trauma, fostering connection, and positive development for children, youth, caregivers, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents and families. Of particular interest are youth-led or co-led initiatives, innovative healing spaces, family-focused interventions, community-based supports, and alternatives to arrest/incarceration such as diversion programs. Programs addressing healing trauma from separation, cultural restoration, and solidarity-building across institutions and communities are encouraged.- Policy and Advocacy
This track highlights efforts to dismantle separation and promote solidarity through policy change, systemic reform, and advocacy. We seek proposals on advancing justice and human rights, addressing racism, poverty, mental health, and addiction, engaging youth and affected communities in advocacy, and building collaborations across sectors. Creative modalities—such as art, nature, filmmaking, social media, participatory action, and grassroots organizing—are especially welcome, along with strategies that move “from listening to action.” - Building the Knowledge Base
Share cutting-edge research—quantitative, qualitative, and participatory—that centers the wisdom and leadership of those with lived experience. We encourage presentations exploring interconnected challenges (e.g., parental incarceration and immigration consequences, Indigenous overrepresentation in federal facilities, unaccompanied youth, homelessness), lessons from struggles and strategies, and evidence supported interventions that inform policy, programming, and collective action.
Proposal Formatting and Submission
Please prepare your proposal in the following format.
File Name: LAST NAME _ Track# _ Proposal Type (e.g., Smith_Track2_Panel)
Please include your full name, with appropriate designations such as Doctor, Professor, etc., your title, institution/affiliation, and the names and titles of those who will present with you (if all members are not known, that can be finalized at a later date), as well as an approx. 50 word bio for each presenter.
Please also include the following:
- Title of Presentation
- Preferred Format (presentation + Q&A, workshop, panel, etc.)
- Up to 3 Learning Objectives – what can participants expect?
Description
Submit a 300 - 500 word abstract describing the presentation. Please be sure to be as specific as possible as to what your presentation offers, as well as any evidence to support your results and impact. Some presentations may be more conceptual in nature.
Email your submission to [email protected] Please add this email to to your email address book. We use Salesforce and Mailchimp for all our communications surrounding proposals and some email servers will mark our distribution list as SPAM if we are not part of your address book.
Selection Process
Proposals will be reviewed and selected by volunteers from the national CIP Conference Planning Committee to ensure the conference offers a comprehensive and diverse program. You may be invited to present in a format or track other than the one you specified.