Join us for the 2025 Conference!
The Annual Children’s Network Conference remains one of the Inland Empire’s premier training events for professionals including those in the fields of social work, mental health, juvenile justice, child development and child welfare. The goal of this conference is to provide the latest research, findings and evidence-based promising practices that will equip local professionals to continue to serve children, families and community members throughout the County. Each year, hundreds of professionals take this opportunity to come together to enhance their education, draw strength from each other’s experiences, and look within themselves to find what keeps them doing this important work.
It is our hope that conference attendees will walk away from this experience with a renewed passion to make sure that the interactions they have every day, whether with children, families or colleagues, are positive, as we never know how they may shape the trajectory of someone’s life.
40th Annual Children’s Network Conference
September 2-3 • Ontario Convention Center • Ontario, CA
Welcome!
Join us for two days of dynamic learning, networking, and inspiration. This year’s conference will feature an exciting lineup of keynote speakers and expert-led workshops designed to support and strengthen those who work with children and families. Breakfast and lunch are included each day, giving you time to recharge and connect with colleagues.
Each day, we will also welcome 100 youth for their own specialized workshops, creating a unique and engaging learning experience tailored just for them. And, new this year, we’ve added a Parent/Caregiver Track designed for parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents. These sessions will focus on increasing knowledge of youth development and behavior, while building skills to create and strengthen supportive relationships with the children in their care.
In addition to the workshops, be sure to explore our large exhibit hall, filled with vendors, resources, and opportunities to connect with community partners. It’s a place to discover new tools, build relationships, and exchange ideas.
And don’t forget — there will be prizes awarded throughout the day, adding a little extra excitement to your conference experience.
Whether you’re here to deepen your expertise, gain fresh perspectives, or expand your professional network, we can’t wait to welcome you to two unforgettable days of learning, collaboration, and community impact.
Continuing Education
Workshops with an Asterisk (*)
Workshops marked with an asterisk (*) have been approved for Continuing Education (CE) credit. CE credits are available for qualifying sessions to help professionals meet ongoing licensing or certification requirements.
The conference meets the qualifications for up to 6.25 hours of continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, and LPCCs as required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. PERC (Provider # 136346) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, and LPCCs and maintains responsibility for the approved training course(s) and its content. There is no charge for CE credit. To obtain a course completion certificate for CE credit, sign in at the PERC CE registration table prior to attending the CE approved course. After the course, return to the PERC table and provide a course evaluation to receive your certificate on the day of the conference.
39th Annual Children’s Network Conference Video
Previous Keynote Speakers
Dr. Melissa Merrick – President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America
Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit focused on preventing child abuse and neglect. With over 20 years of clinical, research, and leadership experience, she is a leading expert on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and previously served as a senior epidemiologist at the CDC. Dr. Merrick has played a key role in national efforts like the ACEs study and the Thriving Families, Safer Children initiative, which promotes equity and prevention in child welfare. She holds advanced degrees in clinical psychology and has contributed extensively to research on child maltreatment and protective factors.
Justin Black – Co-founder of Redefining Normal and Award Winning Author
Justin Black is an award-winning author, dynamic speaker, and serial entrepreneur recognized by Forbes as one of the Next 1000 Entrepreneurs (2021). Justin and his wife, Alexis, co-authored the bestselling, award-winning book Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness, and Love, which has reached and inspired more than 40,000 individuals, families, and communities. Through their company, Redefining Normal, they lead transformative conversations on healthy relationships, mental health, community growth, and healing—impacting audiences worldwide through speaking engagements, trainings, book clubs, and workshops.
2016 CN Conference
- Keynote Speaker – Journalist, John Quiñones
- The Founding Fathers of Children’s Network
- Keynote Speaker “Rapping Dad” Derek Clark