From Lived Experience to Lasting Change: Inside the 2025 California Safety Organized Practice Conference
From May 28-29, 2025, the Northern Academy at UC Davis Human Services hosted the California Safety Organized Practice (SOP) Conference at the UC Davis campus. With more than 200 child welfare professionals from across the state in attendance—ranging from line staff to organizational leaders—the gathering generated a collaborative and reinvigorating space for reflection and connection.
Connecting to the Heart of SOP
At the heart of Safety Organized Practice is the belief that hope and motivation for change are inspired through relationships and empowerment. This means every interaction between child welfare professionals and the children, youth and families they serve can be an opportunity to strengthen connection and support families in creating their own solutions.
This year’s theme, Connecting to the Heart of SOP, invited participants to reignite their commitment to the practice’s core values and explore innovative ways to bring them to life.
Opening keynote speaker Lisa Maaca Bartlette set the tone with Getting to the Heart of SOP: Creating Space for Connection, where she shared stories from her own child welfare experience, highlighted trauma-informed care principles and offered strategies to center relational connections as the heartbeat of SOP.
“[I most valued] connecting with others passionate about SOP,” shared a first-time SOP conference attendee. “I enjoyed connecting with those very experienced and new in their journey!”
On the first afternoon, the SOP Backbone Committee debuted Robert’s Story, a video series narrated by a parent partner, UC Davis instructor and father of six. The series documents his journey through the child welfare system as a parent, highlighting the ways social workers collaborated with him through SOP values and strategies.
“I really enjoyed the personal stories from former people with lived experience of the system,” said another first-time attendee. “It really helped showcase why SOP can be so powerful.”
The emphasis on lived experience continued into the second day with Your Story, Your Strength: Irving Chavez’s Journey of Resilience and Community. In this engaging keynote session, Irving Chavez shared how embracing his story became a source of transformation and positive change.
“The keynote speakers were phenomenal,” shared an attendee. “I really appreciated the different experience that they brought to the conference.”
Building Community Through Practice
Alongside the keynotes, more than 12 workshops offered practical insights on advancing trauma-informed, relationship-centered child welfare practices while prioritizing empathy, connection and empowerment. Informal networking opportunities and collaborative sessions further strengthened the sense of community and shared purpose in advancing strengths-based, solution-focused approaches to child and family services.
“[I most valued] being able to come together with others to learn, discuss and exchange ideas about SOP and how to support the practice,” shared a returning participant.
Acknowledging the Heart Behind the Conference
The Northern Academy at UC Davis Human Services extends heartfelt gratitude to the Safety Organized Practice Backbone Committee and the dedicated staff and enthusiastic volunteers who made the 2025 SOP Conference a resounding success. Their commitment and passion not only brought the event to life, but also helped reconnect participants to the very heart of Safety Organized Practice.
Be the Backbone of SOP
From statewide strategy to signature events like the SOP Conference, the SOP Backbone Committee strengthens SOP across California.
Love SOP and want to help the Backbone Committee shape its future? Reach out to Dawn Carini at [email protected].
Learn more about Safety Organized Practice
Access the Safety Organized Practice Toolkit
Read additional articles highlighting SOP tools from the kit and stories from the field.