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2023 Strong Families AZ
Home Visiting Conference
2023 Conference Theme: Creating Connections
September 19-20, 2023
Gila River Resorts Wild Horse Pass and Conference Center
5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, Arizona 85226
Registration opens June 1, 2023, on this webpage.
This conference is free to attend; registration is required
In 2023, the conference will include the following programs.
You may register for all or some of these conference agenda options.
Statewide Home Visiting Conference Agenda
September 19, 2023
Join us for an exciting agenda specifically designed for home visitors and supervisors working in evidence-based or evidence-informed home visiting programs serving expectant families and families with children from birth to age five throughout Arizona.
Tribal Home Visiting Conference Agenda
September 20, 2023
(Concurrent with HRPP Conference Agenda)
A special day for home visitors and home visiting supervisors providing evidence-based or evidence-informed home visiting services to Native American families who are expecting their first child or have children from birth to age five throughout Arizona.
High Risk Perinatal Program (HRPP) Conference Agenda
September 20, 2023
(Concurrent with Tribal Home Visiting Conference Agenda)
The annual meeting for home visitors, home visiting supervisors, physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other professionals working with patients in the High Risk Perinatal Program.
Hotel rooms are now available for reservations.
Note: If you would like to request educational support for accommodations provided by the conference, please click here for an application. You will need to reserve your hotel room first and obtain a reservation confirmation number to include on the application.
2023 Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference
Presenter Line-up
Monday, September 18, 2023 – Special Session
Topic: Creating Connections and Resilience through Self Care

Presenter: Kelly Lubeck, MPH, RYT, CHHC
Healing and Holistic Health Coach
2:30pm – 6:30pm
*Requires pre-registration and individual ticket purchase which includes light buffet dinner.
*Home Visiting Conference attendance required to purchase individual ticket.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 – Statewide Agenda
Topic: The Developmental Neuroscience of Relationships

Dr. Pat Levitt
WM Keck Provost Professor in Neurogenetics
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Topic: 21st Century Dadhood

Moderator: Allan Stockellburg, Executive Director, Parent Aid
Panelists: Ed Casillas, Family Involvement Center
Chod McClintock Parent Aid
Dennis Billie, First Things First
Lunch Keynote
Topic: Promoting Eating Competence in Community Nutrition Settings: Please Pass the Peas… or Cookies
Presenters:

Anne Blocker
MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, CDCES, CEDRD, Executive Director
Ellyn Satter Institute

Jennifer Harris
RDN, LD, CEDS-S, Dietitian and Trainer,
Ellyn Satter Institute
Afternoon Keynote
Topic: Changing the Game: Parenting Children in the Digital Age

Dr. Valora Washington
CEO & President. The CAYL Institute
Closing Keynote
Topic: The Joy of the Job: Take This Job and Love It!

Jody Urquhart, Humorist
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 – Tribal Agenda
*Running concurrently with the High Risk Perinatal Program Agenda.
Opening Keynote
Topic: After the Pandemic: Lingering Health Status Repercussions and Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on AI/AN Populations
Presenters:

Alison Lovell
NREMT, WEMT, NASM-CPT - COVID-19 Health Disparities Grants Manager
Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care / AHCCCS

Keye Garman
Epidemiologist
Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care / AHCCCS
Topic: Native American
Historical Trauma

Madison Fulton (Navajo)
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Topic: Indigenous Foodways as Community Intervention: How It Works

Chef Nephi Craig (White Mountain Apache / Navajo)
Executive Chef and Founder, The Native American Culinary Association (NACA)
Topic: Navajo Highways – Language Preservation through Puppetry

Pete Sands (Navajo) and Company
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 – HRPP Agenda
*Running concurrently with the Tribal Program Agenda.
Opening Keynote
Topic: Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Supporting the Family and the Continuum of Care
Presenters:

Heidi Van der Molen
Feeding Matters

Jaclyn Pederson MHI
Feeding Matters
Topic: Neonatal Death and Bereavement

Erica Schwartz
Bereavement Counselor
New Song Center
Topic: Providing Whole Person Care for Native American Families

Holly Figueroa (Hopi / Ohkay Owingeh) - Health Choice Tribal Liaison,
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Topic: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Dr. Sophia Williams
Pediatric Pulmonologist
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Closing Keynote
Topic: Transforming Care in the NICU: Lessons from the Tiny Humans

Sue Ludwig, OTR/L, CNT
Author and President & Founder,
National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT)
Important Documents
Looking for the conference agenda?
- 2023 Conference Agenda
- 2023 HRPP Detailed Agenda
- (Coming Soon)