UACS Annual Conference
The Utah Association of Community Services (UACS) is excited to invite providers, leaders, advocates, and partners to attend the 2026 UACS Annual Conference, taking place October 8–9, 2026, at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park.
UACS is a statewide association representing disability service providers who deliver residential, vocational, behavioral, and day services through Utah’s Community Supports Waiver and related programs. Our members are dedicated to advancing high-quality supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and UACS works collaboratively with policymakers, advocates, and professionals to strengthen Utah’s disability service system.
This annual conference brings together agency leaders, program managers, direct support professionals, policymakers, self-advocates, and key system partners from across Utah’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) network. Attendees will have opportunities to connect with peers, learn from experts, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of disability services in Utah.
Under this year’s theme, Strengthening What Matters: Safety, Workforce, and the Future of HCBS in Utah, the conference will focus on the real-world challenges providers face as they balance safety, workforce sustainability, service quality, and the operational demands of running organizations within a Medicaid-funded system.
Participants will leave with practical tools, operational strategies, and real-world insights designed to strengthen organizations, support and retain staff, and build systems that promote safety while upholding dignity, choice, and quality of care.
Conference sessions will focus on two primary tracks:
Operations, Workforce & Organizational Leadership
Practical strategies for leading sustainable organizations, strengthening workplace culture, supporting and retaining staff, navigating operational challenges, and developing effective leaders.
Safety & Quality
Building systems that protect individuals while preserving dignity, autonomy, and choice. Topics will include abuse prevention, risk management, person-centered practices, incident response, and creating cultures of safety and accountability.
Throughout the conference, attendees will hear personal stories, provider successes, and lived experiences that reconnect us to the purpose and impact of this work. The 2026 UACS Conference is designed not only to provide actionable knowledge and leadership development, but also to strengthen our shared commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities and the communities in which they live.
UACS Conference Registration
The UACS Fall Conference registration is now open for members only. Non-members will have a chance to register at a later date based on availability. Please complete the registration form below and also click the button to book rooms if needed.
Call for Presentation Proposals
The Utah Association of Community Services (UACS) invites you to submit a proposal for our Fall 2026 Conference. The conference will be held on October 8-9, 2026, at the Marriott University Park SLC, Utah.
About UACS
UACS is a statewide association representing disability service providers who deliver residential, vocational, behavioral, and day services under the Community Supports Waiver. Our members are dedicated to advancing high-quality support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). UACS works collaboratively with policymakers, advocates, and professionals to strengthen the disability service system in Utah.
Eligible speakers include:
- Self-advocates
- Direct support professionals
- Provider organizations
- Advocacy groups
- Researchers
- Students
- Professionals from both for-profit and nonprofit sectors
Conference Tracks with suggested topics:
1. Operations, Workforce & Organizational Leadership (Primary Track)
Strong services require strong organizations and strong organizations are built by people who understand both how to operate effectively and why the work matters.
This track focuses on the realities of leading provider agencies while also strengthening and sustaining the workforce that makes high-quality services possible. Sessions should address practical strategies for organizational stability, while also reinforcing the purpose and impact of this work.
Suggested topics include:
- Financial sustainability and decision-making in a rate-constrained system
- Building operational systems that support staff success and reduce burnout
- Leadership practices that strengthen culture, retention, and accountability
- Structuring services and staffing models for long-term sustainability
- Navigating contracts, compliance, and regulatory expectations effectively
- Supporting supervisors and frontline leaders in high-demand environments
- Using data and feedback to drive better organizational decisions
- Creating workplaces where staff feel valued, supported, and connected to purpose
- Preventing burnout through strong systems—not just individual resilience
- Reconnecting teams to the impact and meaning of their work in HCBS
We are especially looking for:
Real-world examples, leadership tools, operational strategies, and sessions attendees can apply immediately within their organizations.
2. Safety & Quality (Primary Track)
Safety is essential—but how it is implemented matters.
This track will explore how providers can build systems that protect individuals while preserving dignity, autonomy, and choice. We welcome sessions that move beyond compliance and focus on practical approaches to creating safer, stronger service environments.
Suggested topics include:
- Abuse prevention and proactive safeguarding systems
- Building a culture of safety beyond compliance
- Balancing safety with dignity of risk
- Practical decision-making tools for DSPs and supervisors
- Lessons learned from incidents, near-misses, or system challenges
- Supporting staff after difficult incidents or high-stress situations
- Building psychologically safe teams and workplaces
- Quality improvement systems that strengthen outcomes and accountability
We are especially looking for:
Interactive sessions, case-based discussions, and practical frameworks that support day-to-day decision-making.
3. Cross-Cutting Focus: Purpose, Impact & Reconnection
Throughout the conference, UACS will weave in personal stories, provider successes, and lived experiences that reconnect attendees to the purpose and impact of this work.
We welcome proposals that help attendees remember not only how to lead effectively—but why this work matters.
Call for Speaker Proposals
Proposal Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026 All proposals will be reviewed and evaluated to ensure alignment with the conference theme. Sessions should focus on substantive issues relevant to IDD service providers and should not serve as a sales pitch for a product or service. The UACS Conference Planning Committee will review all submissions, and selected speakers will be notified by August 1, 2026.
Contact nancy@uacs.org with questions
Sponsorship Invitation for the 2026 UACS Conference
Partner With UACS
UACS is seeking mission-aligned sponsors whose work, services, and values support individuals with disabilities, HCBS providers, and strong community systems.
Whether through sponsorship, exhibitor participation, in-kind support, or customized partnership opportunities, we welcome organizations that want to invest in the future of disability services in Utah.
About the Conference & Audience
The Utah Association of Community Services (UACS) Conference brings together leaders and professionals from across Utah’s disability service system for focused conversations about the future of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
The 2026 conference, Strengthening What Matters: Safety, Workforce, and the Future of HCBS in Utah, will take place October 8-9, 2026, at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park.
This intentionally designed 1.5-day conference will focus on the operational, workforce, safety, and leadership challenges currently shaping disability services in Utah.
Attendees will include:
- Provider agency owners and executive directors
- Area directors and program managers
- State and system partners
- Policy leaders and industry stakeholders
Sponsors will have the opportunity to connect directly with the individuals and organizations helping shape the future of community-based disability services in Utah.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities or conference involvement, please contact:
Nancy Strahan, Executive Director, Utah Association of Community Services at nancy@uacs.org
Why Sponsor?
Sponsoring the UACS Conference is an opportunity to demonstrate your organization’s commitment to strengthening Utah’s disability service system while building meaningful relationships with leaders across the HCBS community.
Conference sponsorship provides:
- Direct visibility with provider decision-makers
- Opportunities to build long-term industry relationships
- Recognition as a supporter of workforce sustainability, safety, and quality services
- Engagement with organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Utah