Children Come First Conference

Save the Date and mark your calendars now!

2025 Children Come First Conference

November 3rd-4th, 2025
Kalahari Resort • Wisconsin Dells, WI

Join Us in Shaping a Brighter Future for Children & Families

Presented by Wisconsin Family Ties, this annual conference promises to bring together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries to discuss innovative approaches to supporting the mental health needs of children and adolescents.

Check out some highlights below from the Children Come First Conference: 2024 “From Surviving to Thriving,” and mark your calendar now to join the Children Come First Conference 2025!

What is the Children Come First Conference?

As one of the largest and longest-running family-driven events in the state, this conference is dedicated to addressing the pressing needs of children and families living with mental and behavioral health issues.

The Children Come First Conference brings together a diverse audience, including parents, caregivers, social workers, educators, school support staff, and various professional service providers from communities throughout the state.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, mental health professional, or community leader, this conference is designed to encourage, inspire, and inform throughout two full days of insightful discussions, groundbreaking ideas, and valuable networking opportunities. You’ll gain access to the latest research, strategies, and tools to better support the children and adolescents in your life and work.

You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. We hope you will join us at the next Children Come First Conference and become part of the community dedicated to children’s mental health!

2024 Conference Photos

Conference Testimonials

If you were to tell others about your thoughts on the Children Come First Conference, you would say, ‘The Children Come First Conference…’:

Is a great time to rejuvenate your motivation to continue doing what you do to help others.
Is a must for all that have contact with children. It is life changing to experience this conference. So many times we as adults and care takers get stuck in thinking. We owe it to our future to learn how to work with , and even communicate together. Experiences shared are with love and great detail. It helps learn the lived experience in different situations. This is my second year attending and I will attend every year.
Is an enlightening conference that gives you new perspectives on forming and continuing relationships with children and adults. You are taught not to adhere to old paradigms, but rather embrace new ideas that may become the new paradigms of the future.
Is very well organized and has great information, presenters, and even good food and great conference centers. All around A plus conference.
Great Presenter. He made me cry – empathy for his trauma. He inspired me to be a better Resiliency Factor for children. Thank you Hector. We have your back too!