Proposals are reviewed by the Shared Hope training team in addition to a group of field experts.  

Each year, the conference receives more than 300 proposals, so the selection process is very competitive and stringent. It is important to be as thorough and complete with your submission as possible. 

Proposals are evaluated on a number of criteria, including but not limited to those listed toward the bottom of this page.

The number of workshops selected each year varies depending on the overall program design and how many workshop rooms are available. In 2026, there will be approximately 40 workshop slots. 

Yes, co-speakers can and should be included with your proposal. We recommend no more than 2 total speakers per workshop. For panel submissions, we recommend no more than 4-5, including the moderator.

The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is April 30, 2026. Late submissions are not accepted.  

Selected speakers will be notified in early-to-mid June. Selected speakers must accept or decline the invitation by a specific deadline.  

There are no specific requirements to present at the conference, and we welcome submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including: 

  • Community-based service providers, including MDT members 

  • Child and youth serving system professionals (e.g., RHY, child welfare, juvenile justice, mental and behavioral health)  

  • Housing experts   

  • Law Enforcement  

  • Attorneys 

  • Policymakers  

  • Academic researchers   

  • Physical and Mental Healthcare providers 

  • Lived Experience Experts 

  • Community activists 

  • Advocates 

  • Judges 

  • Educators and School staff 

 

JuST workshop presenters are generally not compensated, but they do receive complimentary conference registration ($995 value). 

Survivor speakers may qualify for compensation and assistance with travel and hotel expenses. Additional information will be communicated in the letter of invitation.

If a speaker in your workshop is a survivor and will require financial support in order to participate, please indicate this in their profile in the proposal submission. This does not guarantee funds will be provided, but it will assist in evaluating the proposal. 

Selected speakers receive complimentary full conference registration ($995 value), with a limit of 2 complimentary registrations per workshop. Additional speakers receive discounted registration.  

Proposal Instructions 

  • The call for workshop proposals opens in March and closes on April 30, 2026. There are no exceptions for late submissions.  
  • You must submit a separate proposal for each workshop you wish to be considered.  
  • Proposals will be reviewed by the Shared Hope training team and a group of professional peer advisors.  
  • There is no cost to submit a proposal, but you will need to prepare in advance and have several important pieces of information on hand. 
  • Each proposal must be completed in its entirety in a single session. We recommend that you have your information compiled in a format you can easily copy and paste from.
  • Incomplete proposals cannot be considered. Please make sure your information is as complete and accurate as possible.

What You Will Need 

  • Workshop title (up to 100 characters) 
  • Full description of your workshop (up to 3000 characters) 
  • Abbreviated description of your workshop for the published agenda (up to 500 characters) 
  • Three learning objectives for your workshop (200 characters each) 
  • Any supporting documents, such as scientific abstracts, white papers, photos, videos, or other information or documents that will help our reviewers evaluate your proposal 
  • Complete contact information for each presenter, including address, email and phone number
  • Professional resume or CV for each presenter (word or pdf format) 
  • Brief bio (500 characters) and headshot for each presenter 
  • Ability to answer these questions about each presenter: 1) Is this presenter a sex trafficking survivor? (optional); 2) How many years has this presenter worked in the child abuse, maltreatment, or trafficking field? (required); and 3) Will the presenter require financial assistance with air travel or hotel accommodations in order to participate? This requirement does not preclude a presenter from being selected, but it is taken into consideration.
  • Authority to agree to terms and conditions 

Workshop Selection Criteria

1. Mission Alignment  

The proposal clearly supports Shared Hope International’s mission to prevent trafficking, protect survivors, and promote justice. Content should advance knowledge, skills, or practices that contribute meaningfully to the anti-trafficking field.  

2. Relevance to the JuST Audience  

The workshop addresses the needs of JuST’s multi-disciplinary audience (e.g., law enforcement, legal professionals, service providers, healthcare, educators, researchers, advocates, and survivors). Preference will be given to proposals with broad applicability or clearly defined audience targeting. 

3. Practical Value & Skill Development  

The workshop provides actionable insights, tools, strategies, or frameworks attendees can apply in their work. Workshops that move beyond theory into real-world implementation are prioritized.  

4. Evidence-Based & Credible Content  

The material is grounded in research, established best practices, lived experience, or demonstrated field expertise. Presenters should show subject matter credibility and clarity of perspective.  

5. Innovation & Field Advancement  

The workshop offers fresh perspectives, emerging practices, new research, or evolving policy considerations. Priority is given to proposals that add something new rather than repeating widely covered topics.  

6. Ethical & Survivor-Centered Approach  

The content reflects trauma-informed, survivor-centered principles, avoids sensationalism, and demonstrates sensitivity to the complexities of exploitation, victimization, and recovery.