Growing Well Conference
2025 Growing Well Conference: “Moving Mountains and Community”
Presented by AIHW Community Outreach and Education
October 12-14, 2025 | Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences
The first annual Growing Well Conference will offer inspiration, education, and connection for those working to support children and youth with special healthcare needs in rural western North Carolina.
This year’s theme, “Moving Mountains and Community,” highlights the resilience, innovation, and collaboration needed to improve outcomes for families navigating complex health and social systems. The event will kick off with a Pre-Conference Workshop on Sunday, October 12, followed by two full days of conference programming on October 13–14.
The conference features a dynamic mix of individual and group presentations, expert panel discussions, and hands-on demonstrations. Sessions will be led by healthcare providers, researchers, government leaders, educators, and individuals with lived experience—offering a wide range of perspectives.
Topics will include:
- Medical management of children with complex health conditions
- Evidence-based behavioral therapies
- Cross-system collaboration in child welfare and mental health
- Supporting youth through transitions from school to adult care and community services
- Describe the impact of health disparities on access to diagnosis, care coordination, and outcomes for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN).
- Implement strategies that address social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and access to education, when developing care plans for CYSHCN.
- Apply evidence-based practices to support early identification of developmental delays and promote physical health in children with complex needs.
- Demonstrate evidence-based communication techniques and caregiver engagement strategies to support mental wellbeing and family resilience.
- Integrate evidence-based behavioral communication tools, including parent coaching, into practice to support CYSHCN with complex communication needs.
- Develop and apply transition planning strategies to empower families and youth during shifts between early intervention, school-based services, and adult care systems.
Registration: (fee waivers for non credit seeking registration coming soon)
Sunday, October 12:
Pre-Conference Registration can be found here
Monday, October 13 & Tuesday, October 14:
Registration information can be found here
Download Event Brochure and Agenda
In-Person at
Leon Levine Hall
Appalachian State University
1179 State Farm Road
ASU Box 32170
Boone, 28608 NC