Registration open for the 2025 Behavioral Health & Children and Family Services Conference

BISMARCK, ND (JULY 22, 2025) - Registration is open for the 5th annual Behavioral Health & Children and Family Services Conference, scheduled for October 20-23, at the Bismarck Event Center and online via livestream.

The conference offers behavioral health and child welfare professionals across North Dakota an opportunity to connect, learn, network and share best practices — both in person and virtually.

Preconference sessions will be held Oct. 20, while the main conference begins the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Who should attend: behavioral health and child welfare professionals, service providers, foster and adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, educators, law enforcement, health care providers, tribal and faith leaders, and others invested in community well-being.

Registration fees are $200 for general attendees and $50 for university students, kinship caregivers (relative homes) and foster or adoptive parents. On-site registration will be available. Continuing education units are being pursued for multiple professional disciplines.

Keynote Speaker Highlights

Lara Love Hardin is a literary agent, author, prison reform advocate, and president of True Literary. Her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller. 
David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently helping lead Community Engagement for Amazon, Ambroz previously led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and has served as president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission as well as a California Child Welfare Council member.
Jessica Lahey speaks to parents, educators, community leaders and more about the science of learning, motivation, engagement and substance use prevention, all of it in service to the belief that adults have the power to help kids become more autonomous, competent, connected and fulfilled.

The opportunity to serve as a conference sponsor is also available. Follow the link below to learn more about the sponsor packages.

The conference will be held at the Bismarck Event Center, 315 Fifth St., Bismarck.

For details and registration, visit empower2025.vfairs.com.

Back to Previous Page