Submission Deadline: May 22, 2023
The IARF Education Committee invites you to submit a presentation proposal for the 2023 IARF Educational Conference & Expo! This year’s event will be held on August 30 – September 1 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.
Our goal with our Annual Conference is to offer attendees a creative learning environment where they can increase skills, problem-solve, network and celebrate the work they do. The committee seeks proposals that will accomplish the following:
Audience: Community-based I/DD and Behavioral Health Service Provider professionals serving children and adults in the State of Illinois including but not limited to:
2023 Conference Theme
The theme of this year’s Conference is Leading, Learning, & Innovating: Growing our Vision with the Next Generation. Our aim is to provide an environment where learning professionals can go to discover practical solutions and strategies they can use to solve challenges faced in our field. A space where our attendees can explore new ideas, learn from one another, network with colleagues and enjoy some fun! The IARF Conference is a community building event, connecting folks who have a passion for the work they do helping others and improving their communities. With this year’s theme, we encourage educational presentations focused on, but not limited to, leadership and professional development, recruitment and retention of all levels of staff, innovative and emerging service models, and overall proposals aimed at improving services and supports systemwide.
Presentation Focus
In addition to our theme, we encourage presentation proposals that share lessons learned, evidence-based results and replicable approaches and practical tools that advance the ability of I/DD and Behavioral Health service providers. Research suggests that interactive sessions increase attendees’ experience, opportunities to network with peers, and retention of the information that is presented. When submitting a proposal, please consider formatting your presentation for such interaction. We realize that not every subject is conducive to this presentation style, so you should not be dissuaded from submitting a proposal if that is the case.
New in 2023 – Poster Sessions
The poster format is an opportunity to showcase your work and agency successes through a visual representation. Posters should focus on innovative ways providers are supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses in their communities – work that you are proud of and excited to share with the field. Posters will be displayed throughout the conference with dedicated time during the event for authors to interact with attendees. Poster submissions should include a clear description of the topic/project and the main objectives or outcomes.
Submission Overview
You do not need to be a member of IARF to submit a proposal. Commercial content, product or service-related advertisements are not permitted. Session content must be educational. Presenters selected for the conference will also receive a discount on registration.
Submission Deadline
All presentation proposals must be electronically submitted by no later than May 22, 2023.
Please feel free to share this with other colleagues who may be interested in presenting at this event!
Our goal with our Annual Conference is to offer attendees a creative learning environment where they can increase skills, problem-solve, network and celebrate the work they do. The committee seeks proposals that will accomplish the following:
- Provide relevant content for an audience with the range of responsibilities described below;
- Stretch current thinking and provide new approaches with specific "how-to" takeaways;
- Share best practices in person-centered services and supports, provider administration, etc.
- Advance the use of data to achieve value-based outcomes and allow for agency benchmarking;
- Deliver content in an engaging and interactive way that draws on the experience of attendees;
- Utilize case studies to advance discussion of lessons learned from the experience.
Audience: Community-based I/DD and Behavioral Health Service Provider professionals serving children and adults in the State of Illinois including but not limited to:
- QIDPs and Frontline staff, including Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals in Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports
- QMHPs and Mental Health Professionals
- Management and Administration
- C-Suite and Executive Management
2023 Conference Theme
The theme of this year’s Conference is Leading, Learning, & Innovating: Growing our Vision with the Next Generation. Our aim is to provide an environment where learning professionals can go to discover practical solutions and strategies they can use to solve challenges faced in our field. A space where our attendees can explore new ideas, learn from one another, network with colleagues and enjoy some fun! The IARF Conference is a community building event, connecting folks who have a passion for the work they do helping others and improving their communities. With this year’s theme, we encourage educational presentations focused on, but not limited to, leadership and professional development, recruitment and retention of all levels of staff, innovative and emerging service models, and overall proposals aimed at improving services and supports systemwide.
Presentation Focus
In addition to our theme, we encourage presentation proposals that share lessons learned, evidence-based results and replicable approaches and practical tools that advance the ability of I/DD and Behavioral Health service providers. Research suggests that interactive sessions increase attendees’ experience, opportunities to network with peers, and retention of the information that is presented. When submitting a proposal, please consider formatting your presentation for such interaction. We realize that not every subject is conducive to this presentation style, so you should not be dissuaded from submitting a proposal if that is the case.
New in 2023 – Poster Sessions
The poster format is an opportunity to showcase your work and agency successes through a visual representation. Posters should focus on innovative ways providers are supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses in their communities – work that you are proud of and excited to share with the field. Posters will be displayed throughout the conference with dedicated time during the event for authors to interact with attendees. Poster submissions should include a clear description of the topic/project and the main objectives or outcomes.
Submission Overview
You do not need to be a member of IARF to submit a proposal. Commercial content, product or service-related advertisements are not permitted. Session content must be educational. Presenters selected for the conference will also receive a discount on registration.
Submission Deadline
All presentation proposals must be electronically submitted by no later than May 22, 2023.
Please feel free to share this with other colleagues who may be interested in presenting at this event!
