Growing Well Conference: Moving Mountains for People with Special Health Care Needs
Description
The second annual Growing Well Conference will bring inspiration, education, and connection to those supporting children and youth with special health care needs in rural western North Carolina. This year’s theme, “Moving Mountains for People with Special Health Care Needs,” underscores resilience and collaboration across complex health and social systems.
Attendees will hear from top state and national policy leaders and autism advocates, including Georgia Commissioner Kevin Tanner, North Carolina Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie, and Dr. Andrea Davis of California, alongside providers, researchers, educators, and individuals with lived experience.
Sessions will cover medical management, behavioral therapies, cross-system collaboration, and transition planning for youth entering adulthood. Participants will gain practical strategies to address disparities, strengthen caregiver communication, support early identification of developmental needs, and apply evidence-based tools for families navigating complex conditions.
Date: Oct. 4-6, 2026
Location: Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, 1179 State Farm Road, Boone, NC