Child Welfare Operations Symposium

Operations researchers and child welfare professionals are invited to Carnegie Mellon University on Friday, October 23, 2026, for the 4th Annual Child Welfare Operations Symposium.

Watch a recap of a previous event on YouTube.

Confirmed practitioner participants include leaders from Allegheny County, Adoption-Share, Gemma Services, and Children's Advocacy Centers. Together, we will explore the theme "New Challenges, New Opportunities" through discussion-focused roundtable sessions on:

• Strengthening Families and Support Systems
• Navigating Workforce and Organizational Challenges
• Facing External Pressures, Leveraging New Tools

Together, the symposium brings operations researchers and child welfare practitioners into an open exchange on the operational challenges facing the field. Participants will share insights across organizations and disciplines, discuss available data resources and the barriers to using them, and explore opportunities for collaborative, impactful research. 

The event also includes a poster session for academic attendees who wish to share child welfare or related research projects.

Format and Organization

The symposium takes place over a single day, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at Tepper Building at Carnegie Mellon University. Attendees are also invited to a casual networking reception on the evening of Thursday, October 22.

The event is discussion-focused and single-track, featuring practitioner presentations, group discussions, a data resources overview, and a poster session.

Logistics

Meals will be provided. Attendees are responsible for travel and lodging.

There is no registration fee, but space is limited.