Join Us for Crittenton Center's 2026 Annual Summit: A Walk In My Shoes
What if, for just a moment, you could experience the systems our youth navigate every day?
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Crittenton Center invites professionals, community leaders, advocates, educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, and community partners to A Walk In My Shoes—our 2026 Annual Summit designed to inspire new perspectives, strengthen collaboration, and create meaningful change for children, youth, and families.
At the heart of this year's summit is an immersive learning experience unlike any other.
Experience Youth Experiential Learning Labs (YExLS)
Developed in collaboration with young people with lived experience, Youth Experiential Learning Labs (YExLS) is an internationally recognized simulation that places participants in the role of a young person navigating child welfare and other public systems.
Through experiential learning, gamification, and interactive decision-making, participants will experience firsthand many of the obstacles youth face while accessing education, foster care, behavioral health services, housing, and other critical supports. Along the way, participants will encounter the realities of navigating complex systems while balancing their own strengths, goals, relationships, and challenges.
Rather than simply hearing about these experiences, you'll have the opportunity to live them—creating a deeper understanding that extends well beyond a traditional training.
Learn. Reflect. Collaborate.
The simulation is only the beginning.
Following the YExLS experience, participants will engage in facilitated reflection and collaborative action planning designed to turn insight into action. Together, attendees will discuss what they experienced, identify gaps within current systems, exchange ideas across disciplines, and explore practical strategies for improving outcomes for youth and families.
Whether you work in child welfare, education, juvenile justice, healthcare, behavioral health, law enforcement, or another community-serving field, your perspective is an important part of the conversation.
Keynote Speaker: Alex Briscoe
We're honored to welcome Alex Briscoe, Principal of Public Works Alliance and a nationally recognized leader in health policy and Medicaid innovation.
Alex will explore the evolving landscape of Medicaid reform and discuss how policy decisions shape the services available to children, youth, and families. His keynote will provide valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing communities as they work to build stronger, more responsive systems of care.
Optional QPR Suicide Prevention Training
Participants will also have the opportunity to attend an optional QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training at the conclusion of the summit. This evidence-based training equips participants with practical skills to recognize the warning signs of suicide and confidently connect individuals with appropriate support and resources.
Who Should Attend?
This summit is designed for professionals and community members who work alongside children, youth, and families, including:
- Child welfare professionals
- Foster care and family support providers
- Behavioral and mental health professionals
- Healthcare providers
- Educators and school personnel
- Juvenile justice professionals
- Law enforcement
- Community-based organizations
- Government and public system leaders
- Anyone committed to improving outcomes for youth and families
Event Details
Crittenton Center's 2026 Annual Summit: A Walk In My Shoes
📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
📍 Location: Briar Cliff University – St. Francis Center
🕘 Time: 8:30 (check-in), 9:00am-3:00pm- Lunch will be provided!
CEUs pending for: Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, Substance Abuse, Foster and Adoptive Credit, and Iowa Court CLE.
Reserve Your Spot
Meaningful change begins with understanding.
Join professionals from across disciplines for a day of immersive learning, honest conversation, and collaborative problem-solving as we work together to build stronger systems and brighter futures for the youth and families we serve.
Registration is now open.
We also encourage you to share this opportunity with your colleagues, community partners, and anyone passionate about strengthening supports for children, youth, and families. The more voices represented, the stronger our collective impact will be.
