JOIN US AT THE ANNUAL SUMMIT
The Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children, and Georgia CASA are pleased to invite you to The Summit: Georgia’s Child Welfare Conference to be held December 2 - 4, 2026 at the Alpharetta Conference Center at The Hotel at Avalon.
Join other child welfare professionals at the 10th annual Summit; a statewide, multi-disciplinary venue for sharing best practices and collaborating across professions. We are developing an extraordinary program to improve service to children and families involved with Georgia’s child welfare system, and we will offer comprehensive training and connection opportunities for all professionals who serve children and families involved with the child welfare system, including lawyers, judges, Court Appointed Special Advocates, service providers, legal aid providers, delinquency and CHINS practitioners, foster parents, law enforcement, school social workers, educators, and policymakers.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Sixto Cancel
Founder & CEO
Think of Us
Diana Rugh Johnson
CIP Director
Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children
CONFERENCE HOSTS
Jerry Bruce
Director
Georgia Office of the Child Advocate
Melissa Carter
Executive Director
Barton Child Law and Policy Center
Emma Hetherington, CWLS
Director & Clinical Associate Professor
Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) Clinic, University of Georgia School of Law
Diana Rugh Johnson
CIP Director
Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children
Jennifer King
Executive Director
Georgia CASA
Brenda King Woodard
General Counsel/Ethics Officer
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Michael Waller
Executive Director
Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing Education credits for legal and social work have been submitted. Please check back for updates on hours approved.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarships are available for registration to attend The Summit, Georgia's Child Welfare Conference. If you are in need of a scholarship to attend, please complete the registration scholarship request form linked here.
Travel and/or hotel costs are not covered by this scholarship and are the responsibility of each individual.
The deadline to submit a scholarship request is Friday, September 30th, 2026
COUNTDOWN TO THE SUMMIT
- Days103
- Hours0
- Minutes54
- Seconds28
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA), if you require specific aids or services to participate in this conference, accommodations may be requested by qualified persons with a disability. If you wish to request an accommodation, please email AK Consulting Group, Conference Meeting Planner. Please make such a request by November 1, 2026 if the accommodation is needed.
SUMMIT INFORMATION
WHEN
December 2 - 4, 2026
WHERE
The Hotel at Avalon, Autograph Collection
9000 Avalon Blvd.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
SUMMIT MEETING PLANNER
AK Consulting Group
850-523-4200
Email AK Consulting Group