CALL FOR PRESENTERS
Proposal Deadline: November 15, 2007
Proposals must be postmarked NO LATER THAN November 15, 2007. Please
email submissions to:
conference@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
Please visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
to access the Call for Presenters and Application Cover Form.
Call (617) 445-1480 with questions.
Background:
Horizons for Homeless Children invites you to submit a presentation
proposal for the 3rd Young Children Without Homes National Conference,
April 15-17, 2008 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston,
Massachusetts.
The Challenge: There are 1.35 million children who experience
homelessness in our country each year; over half are under the age of
six. Children and families are the largest and fastest growing part
of the homeless population and the problem is growing. We need to come
together and share our knowledge and resources. The 3rd Young Children
Without Homes National Conference will provide this opportunity to
professionals from a variety of disciplines.
At this conference we will:
• Raise awareness about child and family homelessness, focusing on
children birth to age six.
• Provide cross-systems training, networking and collaboration.
• Share information, strategies and resources for serving young
homeless children and their families.
• Bring focus to the growing problem of family homelessness across the
country for policy makers and elected officials.
Who will attend this conference?
• Providers of early care and education services, providers of
homeless services, Early Intervention providers, social workers,
health professionals, public school teachers and administrators,
homeless education liaisons, researchers, policymakers, legislators
and more!
Conference Themes:
Presentations should fit within one of three Conference themes. They
should address the impact of homelessness on young children, best
practices, or current policies and policy initiatives on child and
family homelessness. Please note that topics listed below are
examples. We encourage presentation submissions on other topics as well.
Theme: Impact of Homelessness on Young Children Birth to Age Six
These are Topic Examples:
Child Development: Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Child Nutrition
Domestic Violence
Trauma and its effects on young children and parents
Early Care & Education (including non-traditional child care)
Foster Care/Homelessness connection
Health (both child and adult)
Mental Health (both child and adult)
Poverty/At-Risk Families
Teen Parents
Theme: Best Practices: Strategies for Serving Young Homeless Children
Birth to Age Six
These are Topic Examples:
Early Childhood Assessment and Screening
Building Child and Family Resilience
Cross-Systems Collaborations between shelters, early childhood
programs and the community
Cultural Diversity-Sensitivity and Inclusion
Curriculum Adaptations for at-risk children
Designing Supportive Environments in Shelters and in Early Care and
Education settings
Faith-Based Initiatives
Family-Centered Care
Fatherhood Programs
Parenting Support and Education
Teen Parenting Program Models
Professional Development and Training Models for Shelter Staff
Program Models for Supporting Parents and Young Children in the
Shelter Setting
Supporting Transitions into Permanent Housing and Community
Transitioning Homeless Children and Parents to Public School
Kindergarten/Early Childhood Programs
Implementing a Volunteer Program in the Family Shelters
Working with Homeless Liaisons to meet Community Needs for Preschool
Children
Theme: Current Policies and New Policy Initiatives: How Can We Help?
These are Topic Examples:
Homelessness Housing Models
Advocacy for and with Homeless Parents
Legal Rights for Homeless Families
Access for Homeless Preschool Children to Quality Child Care Settings
Fundraising Strategies for Non-profit Organizations Serving Homeless
Children and Families
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
Prevention of Homelessness
Federal Reauthorizations (e.g., IDEA, Head Start)
Resources: Where to go for current information on public policy
Successful Initiatives
Working Poor & Unemployment
Audience Level:
Please indicate whether your session content is at the Introductory,
Advanced level or for All Levels.
Presentation Format:
Please indicate whether you prefer a 90 minute or a 2 hour session,
and whether you would be willing to do the session twice on the same
day or another conference day.
We encourage presentations that include a combination of lecture,
interactive/audience participation, questions and answers and group
discussion.
Type of Session:
Please indicate whether your session is a Workshop, Panel Discussion,
or Presentation of Model.
Submission Requirements:
Please limit your submission to 2 pages, not including the Cover
Application Form and the Presenter Resume(s).
Applications for session proposals must include:
 Cover Application Form
 Presentation title
 Length and type of session
 Audience level: Introductory, Advanced or For All.
 A brief description of the presentation (50 words or less)
that can be included in the conference brochure
 Three learning objectives
 Three expected presentation outcomes
 Presentation outline
 Presenter(s) resumes(s) or CV(s)
 Short presenter(s) bio (100 words or less)
 Please let us know if you have presented this workshop
before; include when and where
 Indicate if you are willing to present the session twice in a
day
 List of possible handout materials or bibliography for the
session.
 A/V needs
Proposal Review Process:
Proposals will be reviewed by Horizons for Homeless Children staff and
members of the 3rd Young Children Without Homes National Conference
Steering Committee. Once a proposal has been approved, a letter of
acceptance will be e-mailed to the lead presenter by January 7,
2008.
The registration fee for the conference is $???. This fee will be
waived for one presenter per workshop. Presentations should include
no more than three presenters to ensure time for presenter and
audience interaction and group discussion.
Audiovisual Equipment:
A screen will be provided for PowerPoint presentations free of charge
at your request.
Other equipment (LCD, laptop, overhead) is the responsibility of the
lead presenter.
Exhibit and Vendor Space:
If you would like to purchase an exhibit or vendor table, please
indicate in your proposal and the conference coordinator will contact
you. Exhibit tables are $??? This is a discounted price for lead
presenters.
Submission Instructions:
Email your proposal NO LATER THAN November 15, 2007 to conference@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
For additional information contact Sarah Fujiwara at (617) 445-1480,
or sfujiwara@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
For more information about the 3rd Young Children Without Homes
National Conference please go to:
www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org