CCAoA Leadership Institute 2026

Child Care is changing. Leadership Institute is where we figure out what comes next.

Policy is shifting. Technology is changing how people find information and services. States are rethinking regulations and child care systems. Providers are asking for different kinds of support. And child care leaders are navigating what all of this means for their organizations, communities, and the future of child care.

Join us October 5-6 in Kansas City for two days of candid conversations, practical problem-solving, and connections with Resource and Referral (CCR&R) leaders, state administrators, and decisionmakers from across the country.

The Conversations We'll Be Having

TRUST & LEADERSHIP: Trust is the Strategy

How do we protect and strengthen trust when funding, policy, technology, and expectations are changing around us?

STATE POLICY: Child Care at a Crossroads

Where can policymakers with very different perspectives find common ground—and what do legislators need from child care leaders?

AI & THE FUTURE OF WORK: The Future Is Already Here

What becomes easier as AI advances—and what knowledge, relationships, and capabilities become even more valuable?

REGULATORY REFORM: Beyond Streamlining

What if we didn't just simplify child care regulations, but questioned some of the assumptions built into the system itself?

PROVIDER VOICE: What Providers Need Now

Are we building supports providers actually need—or the ones we think they need?

THE FUTURE OF THE NETWORK: What Makes Us a Network?

As who does the work changes, what must remain true—and what should families, providers, and communities be able to count on?

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