Advocacy in Action 2027 — March 1

Advocacy in Action 2027 — March 1–4, Sacramento, CA

Save the date · Sacramento, California

Four days where policy stops being paperwork. Join advocates, organizers, and policymakers March 1–4, 2027 — six blocks from the State Capitol.

When: Mar 1–4, 2027Monday through Thursday
Where: Sheraton Grand1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Registration: Opens Fall 2026Email me when registration opens

Why attend

Where policy
meets practice

Advocacy in Action is more than an event. It brings together professionals working across child and family services to strengthen systems, advance equity, and amplify the voices of those we serve.

You will spend a day making your case directly to legislators at the Capitol, and two days learning from people solving the same problems you are. Four days with the whole field in one building.

Tuesday at the Capitol

Your voice, in the room

Advocacy Day is Tuesday. Monday evening’s reception is where you meet your team leads, get your talking points, and find out which offices you are visiting — so you walk in Tuesday prepared, not cold.

Take back to work

Sessions you can use Monday

Breakouts are built around case studies and real-world application — practice improvement, workforce, operations, data, and leadership. You will leave with something you can put in front of your team next week.

Between the sessions

The people who get it

Peers who run the same programs, hit the same funding walls, and navigate the same regulations. The hallway conversations are half the reason people come back.

Who’s in the room

Executive leadership
Program directors
Policy & government affairs
Clinical & behavioral health
HR and finance leaders
Child welfare & juvenile justice
Education partners
Board members

Registration opens fall 2026

Be first
to know

Registration and the discounted room block open together in fall 2026. Leave your email and we will send you one message the day they go live.

Call for sessions

Present your
work

We’re looking for breakout sessions that are practical, interactive, and solutions-focused — case studies, real-world applications, and audience participation people can use the week they get home. Panel discussions and co-presenter formats are welcome.

You do not need to be a member to submit, and you do not need to be a polished keynote speaker. If you have solved something other organizations are still wrestling with, we want to hear about it.

Submit a session 60-minute breakouts · Proposals due September 20, 2026

Proposals due: Sep 20, 2026
Decisions sent by: Oct 9, 2026
Session length: 60 minutes
Formats: Solo, panel
or co-presented

Priority topics

Policy & advocacy

Updates and collaboration across behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, transition age youth, prevention, and education — including special education policy.

Practice improvement
Workforce innovation
HR & CFO topics
Operations in organizations
Leadership development
Data & research

Agenda at a glance

How the
week runs

A members’ reception Monday, Advocacy Day at the Capitol Tuesday, then two days of conference sessions open to all. Speakers and session titles are announced in fall 2026.

Day 01Mon

Arrive & connect

March 1, 2027

Members only

2:00 PMEvent registration opens
3:30 – 5:00 PMAdvocacy Day reception — meet your team leads and learn how Advocacy Day works

Day 02Tue

Advocacy Day

March 2, 2027

Members only

6:00 AMRegistration opens
7:00 – 8:30 AMContinental breakfast
9:00 AM – 4:00 PMLegislative meetings at the Capitol Annex

Day 03Wed

Conference opens

March 3, 2027

Open to all

6:00 AMRegistration opens
7:00 AMBreakfast
9:00 AMWelcome remarks
9:30 AMKeynote and general session
10:45 – 11:45 AMConcurrent sessions 1
11:45 AM – 12:45 PMLunch
1:00 – 2:00 PMConcurrent sessions 2
2:15 – 3:15 PMConcurrent sessions 3
3:30 – 4:30 PMConcurrent sessions 4
5:00 – 7:30 PMWelcome reception

Day 04Thu

Finish strong

March 4, 2027

Open to all

6:00 AMRegistration opens
7:00 – 9:00 AMBreakfast
9:15 AMKeynote and general session
10:30 AM – 12:45 PMConcurrent sessions
1:00 PMDeparting snack

Preliminary — times and sessions subject to change

Dates & venue

One hotel.
One capital city.

The Sheraton Grand sits at 13th and J, a short walk from the State Capitol, Old Sacramento, and the light rail. Everything on the program happens under one roof — except Tuesday, when members head to the Capitol Annex.

Sheraton Grand Sacramento

1230 J Street · Sacramento, CA 95814

DatesMonday, March 1 – Thursday, March 4, 2027
Check-inRegistration opens Monday at 2:00 PM
Getting here13 miles from Sacramento International (SMF); light rail and Amtrak within walking distance
StayDiscounted room block opens with registration in fall 2026

Advocacy inAction

Where policymeets practice