2026 Children Come First Conference

Wisconsin’s most inclusive children’s mental health conference, the 2026 Children Come First Conference aims to create a space where families' experiences and needs drive professional practice and system design. It convenes caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and system partners to foster learning, build stronger partnerships, and improve outcomes for children across the state. The conference's theme, 'Every Child Belongs,' underscores the belief that all children—regardless of ability, background, or lived experience—deserve to be seen, supported, and included in the systems that shape their lives. Attendees are equipped to be difference-makers through effective coordination strategies, evidence-based interventions, and methods for cultivating supportive environments. The event is eligible for 'Family/Unpaid Caregiver Supports' funding through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program. It emphasizes cross-system solutions and collaboration, bridging mental health, education, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems to establish comprehensive support networks for children with complex needs.