We’re still riding the wave of connection, collaboration, and care that defined the 2025 CarePortal Conference. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Kansas City — we’re grateful to have had you with us. Leaders from across the country — church partners, child welfare professionals, community advocates, and technology innovators — gathered with one shared goal: to transform compassion into action for the most vulnerable among us.

The result? Three unforgettable days of learning, dreaming, and preparing for what’s next in child welfare innovation. Together, we celebrated a decade of impact, leaned into the future of Care-Sharing, and reminded each other that local needs met through radical generosity can change everything.

Let’s look back at what made the 2025 CarePortal Conference so powerful.

Day 1: 

The energy was electric from the opening session. Attendees packed the room for a welcome that celebrated CarePortal’s ten-year journey — a decade of connection redefined and families restored.

Keynote speakers inspired with real stories and clear-eyed hope.

“This is the catalyst for change because this is what the world needs. There may be just a couple hundred people in here, but that’s all God needs to make a movement.” — Nika King, Rose of Sharon

From early breakout sessions to late-night conversations over coffee, themes of innovation, equity, encouragement, prayer, and collaborative Care-Sharing emerged again and again. Church leaders and community partners swapped ideas, shared lessons learned, and found renewed passion for meeting local needs in real time.

And of course, the Decade of Difference celebration was a standout moment. We honored the milestones that brought us here and got excited for the road ahead. From cupcakes to food trucks and live music, we celebrated what God has done in the best way we know how — it was a blast!

Day 2: 

The second day dove deeper into pressing topics like the Church and government’s responsibilities in the foster care crisis, local church engagement, as well as the importance of dignifying and authentic storytelling.. We even caught a glimpse of the inaugural episode of Mike Rowe’s People You Should Know, featuring some familiar faces. These sessions challenged us to think big and act locally, together.

Something each speaker had in common? They emphasized the importance of connection throughout foster care prevention. Connection across the country, and across the child welfare system, starting with each of us. 

“Your state doesn’t have a resource problem, it has a connectivity problem. This is where CarePortal stands in the gap.” — Erik Dellenback, Hope Florida

The rest of the day was filled with engaging breakout sessions and excitement for the fun, festive, and fancy evening ahead. The day capped off with the Celebration Banquet, where we honored individuals and organizations whose impact has truly redefined what’s possible through Care-Sharing. Check out our amazing award winners:

2024 Church of the Year:

• Greater Works Christian Church
• Rise Church
• Spanish River Church
• Together Church

2024 Agency of the Year:

• Juvenile Defense Panel
• Oklahoma Department of Human Services

2024 Community Champion of the Year:

• The Change Reaction

2024 Network of the Year:

• Wichita, KS Region

2024 Network Leader of the Year:

• Jen Seiler

The room was filled with gratitude, laughter, and a powerful sense of community. Each story shared reminded us: the real winners are the kids and families who get to stay together, thanks to people who said “Yes, I can help!” You can check out the Celebration Banquet recap video here.

Day 3:

Day 3 started with worship and a message from Bishop Aaron Blake — someone who has had a huge influence on CarePortal since the very beginning. The breakout sessions equipped attendees with tools to grow their networks, refine their outreach, and deepen their community partnerships. Topics ranged from scalable church outreach ministry to system-level solutions for family restoration. 

“Empathy is the blueprint for reimagining care… because care without empathy is incomplete, but empathy with action can transform the world.” — Maggie Lin, Foster Nation

The final general session encouraged us with stories of courage, resilience, and hope. It  focused on next steps, leaving attendees inspired and empowered to take action right where they are. Whether it’s launching a new Response Team, partnering with a local agency, or rallying a congregation — each attendee left with a clearer sense of how to be part of a movement that is generous, strategic, and deeply local.

Thank You + What’s Next

To our sponsors, volunteers, speakers, and every single attendee: thank you. This conference wouldn’t have been possible without your dedication, generosity, and heart.

Your presence helped make the 2025 CarePortal Conference a beacon of what’s possible when connection meets action.

Don’t miss the Recap Video — it captures the spirit of this incredible event and the stories that made it unforgettable.

And this is just the beginning. Stay connected as we begin planning for the 2026 CarePortal Conference, and keep showing up for the kids and families in your communities. Because together, we’re turning compassion into action.Ready to meet a need today? Head to our Homepage and see how you can be part of restoring families right now.