Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Location: Sunflower Non-Profit Center - 5820 SW 6th Avenue - Topeka, KS 66606
Registration: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Event Time: 9:00 AM – 4:15 PM
CEs Available: 6 Continuing Education Hours
Limited to 100 Registrants
Join us for an inspiring day of learning, connection, and celebration at the 2026 Kansas School Social Work Conference! This full-day professional development event is designed to reignite your passion, strengthen your leadership, and equip you with practical tools better to support your students, colleagues, and communities.
A delicious lunch will be provided by TaCo, with accommodations available for allergies and gluten-free needs.
Hotel Block Information
Hyatt Place Topeka - 6021 SW 6th Avenue - Topeka, KS 66615
Last day to reserve a room: 2/26/2026
Reservation Link: https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/TOPZT/G-TOPS
Special Celebration
Before lunch, we’ll honor excellence in our field with the School Social Worker of the Year and Champion for Children awards.
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--> Nominate a Champion for Children by Clicking Here! <--
Keynote Presentation: John Calvert, Director of School Safety for the Kansas Department of Education - It's Time to Remember
The keynote will inspire attendees to rekindle their passion for education, embrace a positive mindset toward challenges, strengthen relationships with students and staff, and rediscover the joy and purpose that make education such a rewarding career.
AM Spotlight Session: Dr Roslyn Christopher, EdD, MSW - Leading with Purpose and Equity: Empowering School Social Workers for Transformational Leadership
This session will empower school social workers to lead with equity, collaboration, and compassion by defining effective leadership traits, promoting mental health and belonging, influencing school culture, building resilience, creating personal leadership plans, and fostering shared leadership through mentoring and support.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Attendees will be able to choose to attend the two of the following PM breakout room sessions for 90 minutes.
The Power of Hope - Dr. Grey Endres, DSW, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW: This session will help participants understand post-traumatic growth, recognize the power of hope, and learn how to integrate key components of hope and resilience into their work with clients.
School Avoidance, Exposure, and Growth - Jason Bohn, LCPC: This session will explore strategies for addressing school avoidance by distinguishing it from truancy, applying exposure therapy principles, using the BOLD decision-making process, and creating practical growth plans to support students’ return to school.
Understanding Emotional Dysregulation - Todd Clevenger, LSCSW, LCSW & Marianna Schwemmer, MSW: This session will deepen understanding of emotional dysregulation and related mental health conditions while providing practical strategies, calming techniques, and self-awareness tools to help professionals model and support healthy emotional regulation in children.
Disclaimer: Registration for the KSSWA 2026 Virtual Fall Conference is non-refundable and is for Keynote, AM Spotlight, and 2 PM Breakout Room Sessions. No refunds will be provided.
If you have questions about the conference please email KSSWA at ksswa.ks.info@gmail.com.
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