{"id":16744,"date":"2025-09-17T12:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T16:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/cecmh\/?page_id=16744"},"modified":"2026-03-24T16:31:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:31:05","slug":"annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/cecmh\/unc-institute-for-best-practices\/annual-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/som-cell>\n
\nWe are excited to be hosting the annual ACT\/IPS Conference on April 9th and 10th in Winston-Salem. <\/b>This conference was born out of the commitment and support of the North Carolina ACT Coalition. Formed in 2006 by a small group of behavioral health agency leaders, the Coalition emerged from a shared belief that ACT in North Carolina should be implemented with integrity, collaboration, and fidelity to the model. By 2011, 88 teams across 56 agencies identified as ACT, yet only 25 teams from 17 agencies were part of the Coalition. Today, the NC ACT Coalition represents 31 agencies administering 84 teams, carrying forward its long\u2011standing mission to strengthen high\u2011fidelity ACT across the state.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span>From the beginning, Coalition members have come together to share information, mentor one another, elevate policy and funding issues, and bring in topic\u2011specific speakers to deepen collective knowledge. As this collaboration grew, so did the desire for a dedicated gathering\u2014first as a single conference day, and eventually as the broader annual event we know today. IPS SE teams stand in lockstep with ACT in their mission to help people rebuild their lives, where getting and keeping a job can be a critical part of the recovery journey. The alignment between ACT and IPS has strengthened our statewide commitment to person\u2011centered, evidence\u2011based support, making this joint conference a natural extension of the work. The pandemic brought ACT and IPS providers together in a shared virtual space, and in 2023 we reunited in person for our first joint live ACT\/IPS Conference. In addition to the continuing support of the NC ACT Coalition, NC DHHS, and UNC Department of Psychiatry, we are back once again to commune, mentor, educate, and inspire.<\/p>\n

The priority audience is North Carolina ACT and IPS-SE providers, and other relevant stakeholders.<\/b> We also extend an invitation to our neighboring states of Virginia and South Carolina.<\/p>\n

Other interested parties are welcome to reach out to see if there is room to bring in more out-of-state guests.<\/strong> Contact admin@institutebestpractices.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We are bringing back a few favorite presenters from last year and introducing you to some new ones! We also shortened the plenary and keynotes talks, and lengthened many talks that are intended to be more practical workshops. All can be checked out in our brochure below:<\/p>\n

2026 Conference Brochure<\/a>\n

\n

2026 Conference Speakers<\/b><\/h3>\n