Bridging Connections and Celebrating Excellence: Highlights from the 2025 West Coast Child Welfare Trainer's Conference
Human Services at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education cherishes its skilled and knowledgeable instructors who dedicate their lives to helping professionals excel in their careers. This commitment to growth and connection was on full display when the Northern Academy team had the honor of hosting the 2025 West Coast Child Welfare Trainer's Conference (WCCWTC), held Sept. 8-10 in Sacramento.
Rotating annually among training organizations across the western United States, the conference has long served as a special gathering for child welfare trainers to share knowledge, strengthen connections and elevate training practice. This year’s theme, Going for Gold: Bridging Connections in Training Excellence, celebrated the power of collaboration and the shared pursuit of excellence.
“This was one of my favorite [conferences],” reflected Tenille Kober, a returning attendee and trainer from Eastern Washington University. “It was bigger than some years, but small enough for intimacy [and] engagement.”
More than 140 participants traveled to Sacramento for the three-day event, representing communities across the entire Pacific coast and as far away as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada and Vermont.
“The goal of connection and community building was truly accomplished in this shared space of learning and growth,” shared an attendee from California.
The conference opened on Sept. 8 with four in-depth seminars that allowed participants to explore specialized topics in greater depth than a typical workshop. Sessions focused on designing training through authentic assessment, engaging the affective domain to connect with learners’ values and emotions, centering lived experience in child welfare training, and exploring innovative approaches to simulation-based learning. Together, these seminars provided both practical tools and inspiration, leaving participants with new strategies to enhance their practice.
Days two and three shifted into a more traditional conference format, though the presentations were anything but typical. Dynamic keynote speakers brought energy and inspiration to the stage: Kendrick Dial and Derrin Ford blended storytelling, imagery and spoken word in Building Bridges with Art and Empathy; Avni Panchal delivered strategies for resilience and well-being in Thriving Together; and Nora Gerber integrated brain science and creativity in her interactive keynote, Networking Our “TOP” Neuro-informed Practices.
“The keynote speakers were all amazing!” said Christina Stimmann, a longtime UC Davis Human Services instructor.
Evening activities added to the sense of community, with highlights including a storytelling circlecircle facilitated by Peggi Cooney and Emma Black that featured author Kate Russel and several other powerful poets, storytellers and deep listeners.
As the conference came to a close, multiple lighthearted suggestions from the post-event feedback captured the spirit of the gathering: bring more tissues next year—for the tears of inspiration and connection.
For more than 30 years, the WCCWTC has been cherished as a grassroots gathering that strives to offer an environment more akin to an extended conversation over coffee than a formal event. With long breaks, evening socials and space for heartfelt exchanges, it has become a community where trainers connect, share stories and grow together. As one participant from Minnesota put it, “The extremely passionate presenters and attendees [are what I loved most about this conference].” Another attendee added, “This was the most engaging and informative conference I’ve attended. Not only was it filled with a lot of experience, it was filled with love, kindness and appreciation for all.”
As the Northern Academy at UC Davis Human Services passes the baton to the next host for 2026, we extend our deepest gratitude to the keynote speakers, workshop presenters, organizers, support staff and attendees who volunteered their time and expertise to make the 2025 West Coast Child Welfare Trainers Conference such a memorable and meaningful event. After more than three decades, the WCCWTC continues to be a beloved space of learning, connection and shared purpose, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
Learn More and Explore
- Access the 2025 WCCWTC Full Program Agenda
- Learn about the keynote speakers and their presentations
- Browse for additional upcoming events hosted by UC Davis Human Services
Stay in the Loop
To follow the WCCWTC in the future and see the unveiling of next year’s host, we recommend following the West Coast Child Welfare Trainer's Conference Facebook Group
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