WithinReach’s 2025 Learning Series Navigating Parenting in Times of Crisis seeks to bring community leaders together to discuss health issues and strategies for achieving better outcomes for families. 

On August 28, 2024, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents, calling for a fundamental shift in how we value and prioritize their health. Approximately one million parents live with children five and under in Washington state. Parents experience a range of stress that comes with raising children, including financial strain and economic instability, concerns about children’s health, safety and development, and parental isolation and loneliness.  

At WithinReach we recognize we are uniquely positioned to support and advocate for parents. As a connection point between families in crisis and the resources they need, we partner with communities to co-design equitable system supports and amplify their voices to lawmakers to ensure essential resources are available and accessible. Our 2025 Learning Series will spotlight topics of connection, partnership and advocacy as we explore ideas and innovations in communities throughout Washington. 

WithinReach is now seeking session proposals from a diverse group of organizations and presenters that offer a wide range of perspectives. 

About Learning Series Attendees 

WithinReach’s annual Learning Series is primarily attended by health care professionals/practitioners and employees of community organizations interested in improving outcomes for families with children zero to five years old. 

Learning Series attendees have the opportunity to: 

  • learn from renowned subject-matter experts and reflect on how the information shared can help families deal with crisis situations 
  • analyze research, evidence, and policy solutions that can be brought to bear on pressing challenges facing families and parent stress 
  • gain insight into how health care providers, practitioners and community organizations can leverage their roles to lead change for parents 
  • build relationships with peers with whom they can share approaches for improving outcomes for Washington families 
Read about the 2024 Learning Series

Before submitting a proposal, please review the guidance and policies below. 


Session Proposal Guidelines 

2025 Learning Series Session Topics 

The 2025 Learning Series theme is Navigating Parenting in Times of Crisis. WithinReach intends to curate three to four sessions to be presented consecutively and recorded via Zoom or Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. 

To assist you with generating ideas for session proposals, we have listed examples of topics of interest within each track below. We include these as a starting point – WithinReach will not restrict session selections to these topics 

Coparenting After Separation 

Separation can be a particularly challenging aspect of parenting and should in itself be seen as a crisis for the family. It requires effective communication, compromise, and a shared commitment to the well-being of the children. The session could explore strategies for helping parents manage conflict, set boundaries, and foster a positive coparenting environment. By addressing coparenting challenges head-on, the event can provide valuable guidance to providers helping parents navigate the crisis that follows a separation of parents and/or a separation of children from their parents. There are many crises that can fit under the umbrella of “separation.” Here are some that will interest our audience: reentry after being in prison; divorce/separation and reunification after being in foster care.  

Parenting and Intimate Partner Violence  

Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses significant challenges for parents and their children, profoundly impacting emotional well-being, stability, and the overall family environment. The effects of IPV can disrupt parenting practices, leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and fear, which in turn can affect the quality of parent-child interactions. The session could explore emotional and behavioral responses children may exhibit, such as anxiety, aggression, or withdrawal, and how these behaviors can vary depending on age and individual circumstances. Additionally, the session could address the challenges of co-parenting after experiencing IPV, highlighting the importance of establishing safe and effective communication strategies between parents. 

Parenting as a Recent Immigrant  

Immigrant families face unique challenges while adjusting to a new culture, language, and environment, all of which can significantly impact their parenting practices. These challenges often include navigating unfamiliar educational systems, accessing healthcare, and managing cultural expectations regarding child-rearing. This session could explore practical strategies to support recent immigrant parents in navigating the complexities of raising children in a new country. What tools do parents need to thoughtfully address cultural differences, enhance communication with their children, and build a supportive network within their communities? 

Parenting When Basic Needs (food, shelter, clothing, health care) Are Not Met 

Parenting without basic needs can have a profound impact on a child’s development and well-being. Studies have shown that when access to food, shelter, health care and clothing is unstable, children who are at higher risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, behavioral problems, and mental health issues. When parents struggle to meet their basic needs, it can create a stressful and unstable environment for their children. This stress can manifest in various ways, such as increased conflict, neglect, and a lack of emotional support. Understanding the challenges faced by parents who are struggling to meet their basic needs is crucial for developing effective and preventive interventions and policies that avoid child welfare involvement.  

Parenting During a Childcare Crisis 

The childcare crisis has become a significant challenge for parents across the country, impacting their ability to work, maintain their mental health, and provide adequate care for their children. This session could explore the multifaceted implications of the childcare crisis on parents and families, highlighting the unique challenges and potential solutions. This session could further explore the mental health implications and the emotional toll that the childcare crisis can take on parents, including increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt or inadequacy or the impact of a lack of consistent and nurturing childcare can negatively affect children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. 

Parenting When Facing Mental Health Challenges 

Providers are aware that parenting while dealing with mental health issues presents a significant challenge. This session could explore the unique complexities of parenting in such circumstances by emphasizing: how mental health conditions can affect a parent’s ability to provide nurturing and consistent care for their children; how a child’s mental health issues can impact a parent’s ability to parent them and/or other children in the home;  or how becoming a parent – both physically and emotionally – affects our mental health and ultimately our ability to parent.  

Parenting with Child Welfare Involvement  

Child welfare interventions are intended to protect children from harm, but we know they have negative consequences for families. This session could explore the potential risks and challenges associated with child welfare involvement, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful and culturally sensitive supports instead of separation. Our audience would be interested in learning more about the trauma of child welfare involvement, the risks of over-involvement, alternatives to out-of-home placement, or advocacy around child-centered care.  

Additional Session Information

SESSION SELECTION CRITERIA

Panel Experience 

  • Speaking Experience 
  • Lived Experience
  • Subject Matter Expertise 
  • Knowledge and accessibility of presentation technology 
  • Continuing Education Credit access  (We are also specifically interested in learning if continuing education credits can be offered as part of your session and we’d like to know what credits can be obtained by attendees and what the process would be like to receive the credits.)

Session Topic/Type 

  • A session that will inspire our audience 
  • Knowledge of building equity in health care access 

SESSION PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Session Length: All sessions will be approximately 60-75 minutes. WithinReach asks that all sessions are designed to include at least 10 minutes of discussion and Q&A.

Speakers: Each session may have a maximum of four speakers/presenters, including the moderator. In rare circumstances, WithinReach may approve the inclusion of more than four speakers.

Complete Proposal: Please submit all requested information via the 2025 Learning Series Submission Form.

Presenter and Session Policies and Compensation 

2025 Learning Series Registration: Session presenters will not be required to register and pay the registration fee for the 2025 Learning Series.  

Session Organizer: The Session Organizer will be WithinReach’s contact for all communications regarding the selected session proposal. The Session Organizer assumes full responsibility for the design of the session, the coordination of all session presenters (if applicable), compliance with WithinReach’s Presenter and Session Policies, and a successful session delivery. It is vital that there is one consistent Session Organizer for the session that is willing to be responsive in the months leading up to the event.  

Presenter Confirmations: All session presenters must be confirmed no later than 12 days after a session proposal is accepted.  

Session Scheduling: WithinReach will determine the scheduling of all sessions. Please note that WithinReach cannot guarantee a specific timeslot for a session. By confirming speakers’ participation in the session proposal, you are agreeing they will be available for any of the times designated for sessions on Wednesday, February 28, 2025 

Presenter Compensation: Presenters will be compensated $250 each which will be paid no later than 30 days after the event.  

Promotion: Session Organizer and Presenters are expected to promote the event to their networks with materials provided.  

Timeline & Submission Instructions  

  • Session Proposals Due: by 11:59 pm PT on Friday, November 15, 2024. All proposals must be submitted online via the 2025 Learning Series Submission Form. WithinReach will not accept hard copies. 
  • Presenters Informed of Selection Decision: First week of December 2024
  • Photos and bios due to WithinReach Staff no later than December 10.
  • Meet with WithinReach staff in January 2025 to review topic, presentation and logistics. 

If you have questions about the process or your session idea, please contact communications@withinreachwa.org