On March 28-29, 2023, ACF hosted the first-of-its-kind, National Convening on Building an Inclusive Human Services System solely devoted to creating an inclusive human services delivery system and serve as the nation’s leading educational event for practitioners, advocates, and researchers within the field.
The break-out sessions were devoted to leading Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility efforts and each of the 5 populations identified in President Biden’s Executive Order 13895, specifically, persons of color, LGBTQIA+, rural communities persons with disabilities, and religious minorities. There were riveting and inspiring presentations from national experts from the White House on rural initiatives, former foster youth on the power of lived experience, ACL on serving those with disabilities and Children’s Defense Fund on collaborating to serve our most vulnerable populations.
ACF recognizes that change needs to happen at all levels of government and that the voices of those with lived experience need to drive the change for the vulnerable children, youth, families and communities we serve.
Day 1: March 28, 2023
Day 1 - Opening Plenary
Opening plenary speakers include Angela Green from ACF Region 5, Jeremy Martin from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, Deputy Assistant Secretary Debra Johnson of ACF, Assistant Secretary January Contreras of ACF. It also features a Fireside Chat with Assistant Secretary January Contreras, Associate Commissioner of ACF Aysha Schomburg, Gabrielle Newell, Laura Irizarry from the ACF Office of Diversity Management and EEO, and Senior Policy Advisor of ACF Victoria Kabak.
Trauma-Informed, Safer Services and Respectful Workplace for the LGBTQ+ Community
A discussion with Elwin Wu from Columbia School of Social Work and Dr. Nick Salter from Hofstra and moderated by Khalia Montgomery from ACF.
Rural Communities Thriving: Foundations for Equitable Rural Prosperity
A discussion with Katie Hogarty from Climb Wyoming, Jeremy Collins from Blackacre Equity, Vaughn Zenko from Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team, Bonita Robertson-Hardy from Aspen Institute, and moderated by Nikki Hatch from ACF.
Building an Anti-Racist Human Services System
A discussion with Que English from HHS, Ben Sand from The Contingent, and Sue Kafri from All Dulles Area Muslim Society. Moderated by Ben O'Dell from HHS.
Religious Institutions and Community Trust
A discussion with Que English from HHS, Ben Sand from The Contingent, and Sue Kafri from All Dulles Area Muslim Society. Moderated by Ben O'Dell from HHS.
Day 1 Closing Plenary
The Closing Plenary features Angela Green from ACF, youth poet Ivory Bennett, Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Debra Johnson of ACF.
Day 2: March 29, 2023
Day 2 Opening Plenary
Day 2 Opening Plenary session includes speakers Deputy Assistant Secretary of ACF Debra Johnson, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement Will McIntee from The White House, Cortez Carey and Cherie Olivis from Foster Youth Institute, and Chief of Staff Larry Handerhan from ACF. The session also includes a Fireside Chat with participants Larry Handerhan from ACF, Deputy Commissioner Hope MacDonald Lonetree from the Administration for Native Americans, Deputy Division Director Amanda Coleman from DCFD, Director Katherine Chon from the Office of Trafficking in Persons.
The Americans With Disabilities Act for Human Service Providers: What You Need to Know
This is a discussion with Amanda Bagwell from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and Alison Levy from U.S. Access Board, and moderated by Elizabeth Borda Rivera from the Office of Head Start at ACF.
Understanding the How—Strategies on Leading Transformative System Reform!
This is a discussion with Jen Agosti from JRA Consulting, Sekile Nzinga from Equity Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Manny Santiago from Washington State LGBTQ Commission. It is moderated by Bryan Samuels from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.
Day 2 Closing Plenary
Day 2 Closing Plenary Remarks speakers include: Director Katherine Chon from the Office on Trafficking in Persons, Director Carlis Williams of the Office of Regional Operations, and Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson.