38th Annual Virtual Protecting Our Children Conference

The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) Board of Directors and staff have made the difficult decision, after careful consideration and comprehensive evaluation of currently available information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to cancel the 38th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference in Denver, Colorado, scheduled to take place Sunday, March 29–Wednesday, April 1. NICWA has been closely monitoring and following recommendations for best practices as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Supporting the health and well-being of Native children and families is central to NICWA’s mission, and keeping people safe, especially during these rapidly developing circumstances, is paramount. As the largest national gathering of advocates for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families, we recognize our responsibility to consider the safety of families, tribes, and communities and not convene a large public gathering.

What is the 38th Annual Virtual Protecting Our Children Conference?

The 38th Annual Virtual Protecting Our Children Conference will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in the conference from their communities. We will highlight several keynote presentations as well as workshops available to view as webinars. The virtual conference will take place over the same dates as conference: March 30–April 1. NICWA will be in contact with presenters with more information in the week of March 16.