Midwest Organization for Human Services
Call for Conference Presentation Proposals
2013 Regional Conference at Harper College in Palatine IL
CONNECT.EMPOWER.SERVE - PRESENTATION PROPOSAL
SUBMISSION
The Midwest Organization for Human Services (MWOHS) regional conference this year will follow the theme,
“Connect.Empower.Serve”. We are requesting that your proposal align with this theme, presenting on topics related to
best practices for using our connections to empower and serve diverse communities.
Due by: Friday, February 15, 2013
75 minute presentation time slots only – plan accordingly
This Call for Proposals is divided into two sections:
1) Conference Call for Presentation Proposals
Proposals may include individual and partner presentations, panels, and facilitated networking roundtables. Shared
presentations (colleagues, faculty-practitioner, student-faculty, or example), panels and roundtables are
encouraged. Complete the proposal submission in a Microsoft Word document as noted.
Presentation topics may address the following:

Engagement and intervention strategies that serve specific client groups, from individual to family to
community system levels

Theoretical and practical models that empower persons coping with issues such as poverty, trauma and
recovery, mental health, life transitions, immigration, identity development, substance abuse and other timely
concerns in human services


Examples: inter-agency care management models, culturally proficient service delivery, dual diagnosis
treatment, expressive therapies, group work, community-centered activism and social justice advocacy.
Innovative, interdisciplinary and community-based methods for educating future human services professionals
and providing services

Examples: service learning, field experience implementation, student development or club advising,
volunteer coordination, infusion of human rights curriculum, collaboration on grant-funded programs, and
community partnership models

Integrative strategies, technology, experiential learning and practical applications that emphasize the skills,
knowledge, values, ethics, and social/political aspects relevant to human services

Shared presentations (colleagues, faculty-practitioner, student-faculty), panels and roundtables
The conference presentations will be noted in the conference booklet for their relevance to the particular areas,
including the following: instructional methods, research and theory, practice, organizational and community
development, social justice and current issues.
2) Conference Call for Stories - Stories Bring Us Wisdom
Conference participants and prospective presenters are invited to submit ‘Success Stories’ from experiences
across personal, client-related, student, professional, organizational and community arenas. A ‘BOOK OF
STORIES’ will be compiled prior to and at the conference, and stories shared throughout the conference. We know
from narrative therapy and social trauma recovery models, that bearing witness is a powerful tool for healing. We
also know from our organizational work with communities and colleges that we benefit from resource collaboration,
both material resources and our shared knowledge, skills and unique perspectives. So please, write on. Stories
bring us to wisdom. Call for Stories’ submission guide is included in the Call for Stories application.
Additional practical information:
Outreach for this conference includes proposal and attendance invitations to the following: human services and health
care professionals, students in the social science fields, educators and faculty, faith communities, school social
services professionals, social workers, social justice advocacy organizations, experiential education practitioners,
psychologists, counselors, human rights workers, organizational leaders, administrators and more.
Send proposals in MS Word through email to Valerie Walker, Human Services Program Coordinator & Faculty,
Harper College; HMS@harpercollege.edu Due by: February 15, 2013
CONNECT.EMPOWER.SERVE – MWOHS PRESENTATION PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Due by: February 15, 2013
1. Title:
2. Proposal Abstract: Please write a brief summary (up to 75 words) of your proposal that will appear in the
conference program.
3.
Explain presentation’s relevance to conference theme:
4. Expanded Abstract Describe your proposed presentation by expanding on the abstract provided above. Include
2-4 participant-oriented objectives. List and briefly describe any handouts used in the presentation.
5. Format: ☐ Didactic
☐ Experiential
☐ Combination
☐ Other (describe):
6. Targeted Audience: Check all that apply
Students - Associate
☐ Bachelor ☐ Masters+ ☐
Practitioners – Micro/mezzo level ☐
Educators – Associate
7.
Practitioners - Macro level ☐
☐ Bachelor ☐ Masters+ ☐
Audio-Visual Needs
MWOHS will provide smart classroom equipment (overhead projector, screen, DVD and thumb drive access), a
computer and a flipchart with markers. Internet access in workshop rooms may not be available so please copy
any necessary information onto your laptop computer.
8. Presenter Contact Information
Please provide your contact information on the separate page provided.
Note: We wish to encourage students to submit proposals. In order to satisfy requirements of credentialing agencies,
please work with a supervising faculty member who will present with you or will sign a statement acknowledging that
your presentation has been reviewed by faculty and receives approval.
Due by: February 15, 2013
PRESENTER INFORMATION

By checking this required box, I agree that if my proposal is accepted, I and any co-presenters will attend the
MWOHS conference in Palatine, IL during the scheduled time slot between March 14 and March 16, 2013 and pay the
registration fee. (If this box is not checked, your proposal will not be reviewed.)
Presenter 1 (Contact for group—all information will be e-mailed to this person only):
Name: ______________________________________________________________

Student

Faculty

Practitioner
(Check all that apply.)
Highest relevant degree and field:
Licenses or Certifications (if any):
Organization or University/College:
Address:
Work Phone:
Email:
Cell Phone:
Presenter 1 – Biography (Provide information suitable for publishing in the conference program and limit to no more
than 100 words):
Presenter 2
Name: ______________________________________________________________

Student

Faculty
Highest relevant degree and field:
Licenses or Certifications (if any):
Organization or University/College:
Address:
Work Phone:
Email:

Practitioner
(Check all that apply.)
PRESENTER INFORMATION, Continued
Presenter 2 – Biography (Provide information suitable for publishing in the conference program and limit to a no
more than 100 words):
You may add additional presenters by copying and pasting the presenter information template above.
If providing faculty supervision of a student presentation, please provide the following information:
Name:
Degree/Field:
Institution:
Location:
Email:
Phone:

I have reviewed this proposal and give approval for presentation during the MWOHS conference.
Send proposals in MS Word through email to Valerie Walker, Human Services Program Coordinator & Faculty,
Harper College; HMS@harpercollege.edu
Deadline: February 15, 2013