Agenda Details

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2025 CAAP Conference

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Agenda Details • 2025 CAAP Conference •

Pre-Conference

Monday, October 27, 2025

Lunch will be provided for all participants.
Registration open: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

PA Navigate CBO Convening

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Are you a Community Based Organization currently using PA Navigate? Join us in person at this collaborative space where CBOs at large will connect with CAAP leadership to discuss needs, wants, and best practices to inform the evolution of the PA Navigate engagement strategy. 

    • Doors open at 10:00 am

    • Event 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch included.

    • More details to come!

New ED/CEO Boot Camp

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Designed for new Executive Directors and CEOs, this session covers board management best practices, fiscal oversight essentials, strategic conversations, managing change, and navigating relationships after a legacy leader. Gain practical tools and insights to build a strong foundation and lead with confidence.

    • Doors open at 10:00 am

    • Event 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch included.

    Speakers will include experts from Wipfli and The Positive Business.

Pre-Conference

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Lunch will be provided to boot camp participants only.
Registration open: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

CAAP Store open: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Pre-Conference Tracks

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • A crash course in essential HR practices, including key regulations, exempt vs. non-exempt classifications, hiring and retention strategies, termination best practices, and more. Perfect for leaders and managers who want a solid HR foundation.

    • Doors open at 10:00 am

    • Event 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch included.

    Speakers will include experts from McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC and CAAP.

  • Step confidently into your leadership role with this interactive session designed for new managers. Learn how to successfully transition from peer to manager, navigate difficult conversations, and leverage your unique strengths. Attendees will complete the CliftonStrengths talent assessment, which identifies your top 5 strengths, and will review the results during the session. Plus, if you’re attending the full conference, your boot camp experience includes a professional headshot on Wednesday.

    • Doors open at 10:00 am

    • Event 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch included.

    Speakers will include experts from The Positive Business and CAAP.

  • Build your agency’s fundraising muscle in this hands-on session covering the essentials for sustainable funding. Learn how to use 990s to identify opportunities, diversify your funding streams, and apply fundraising best practices. Hear real-world strategies and success stories from a panel of experienced Community Action fundraising experts, and leave with practical tools to grow and strengthen your agency’s financial future.

    • Doors open at 10:00 am

    • Event 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch included.

    Speakers will include experts from Spur & Sprout and Community Action Agencies across PA.

Executive Leadership Meeting

Off Site CAAPy Hour

  • CAAP members only!

    Join us for CAAP’s Annual Meeting and Executive Leadership Meeting, where agency leaders come together to connect, share insights, and discuss key priorities for the year ahead. This gathering offers a valuable opportunity for networking, collaboration, and strategic dialogue. More details to come.

    • Doors open at 12:00pm

    • Event 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    • Lunch is NOT included.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

  • Spooktacular CAAPy Hour Sponsored by Marsh McLennan and Key Risk Insurance! 👻

    Location: Tellus360 - 24 E King St, Lancaster, PA 17602

    Transportation: Shuttle from the Eden Resort will be available on a looping basis from 5-10pm. The shuttle holds 14 people per trip. Street and garage parking at the Penn Square Garage is available. Please plan accordingly.

    Get ready for a fang-tastic evening of fun, laughter, and killer tunes! Join us for a Halloween-themed Happy Hour where costumes are highly encouraged. Bring your spookiest, silliest, or most creative look and show off your Halloween spirit.

    🎤 And yes... there will be karaoke! After last year, we couldn’t resist!

    Costumes, karaoke, and good people, what more could you ask for? We’ll see you there for a night of good fun!

Main Conference

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Registration open: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Breakfast: 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Join us for a book signing with Bree Groff during breakfast and immediately following her Keynote!


Welcome and Opening: 9:00 am - 9:30 am

Headshots are available all day (pre registration required).

CAAP Store open: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Keynote Speaker

Bree Groff

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Bree Groff is a workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). She has spent her career guiding C-suite leaders at companies such as Microsoft, Google, Pfizer, Calvin Klein, and Hilton through periods of complex change. She is a Senior Advisor to the global consultancy SYPartners, previously served as the CEO of NOBL Collective, and she holds an MS in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. Bree lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Session 1

Wednesday, October 29 Breakout Sessions

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

  • This training explores how effective communication strengthens organizational capacity and performance, while emphasizing the importance of avoiding poor communication habits. Participants will learn practical techniques to become clear and impactful communicators, enhance their ability to send and receive messages effectively, and foster strategic communication with clients, their colleagues, and supervisors. Additionally, the facilitator will discuss strategies for delivering and managing difficult conversations in social services and community action.

  • This session creates a brave, raw, and healing-centered space for frontline staff who have emotionally carried the traumas, crises, and survival stories of those they serve. It validates that while empathy is a gift, absorption is a wound—and that no one should carry it alone. This is a moment of symbolic and practical release, rooted in psychological safety, cultural humility, and community care.

  • Community Action has always been about more than delivering services—it’s about sparking lasting change. Data with Purpose is an intermediate-to-advanced workshop for Community Action professionals ready to go beyond compliance and unlock the power of data to drive learning, decision-making, and advocacy.

    Rooted in a people-first, Community Action framework, this session explores how to identify what data truly matters, build systems for reflection, and communicate findings in ways that inspire action. Participants will learn practical strategies for analyzing, visualizing, and sharing data, as well as how to weave community voice into every stage of the process.

  • Workforce shortages in Early Care and Education (ECE) are destabilizing child care programs across Pennsylvania, forcing closures, limiting enrollment, and exhausting remaining staff. In response, STEP, Inc. in partnership with the Early Learning Resource Center Region 7 developed the Substitute Aide Pool Program (SAPP) — a scalable, systems-based staffing model that addresses workforce instability in a direct and meaningful way. This session will explore the conception, design, and implementation of SAPP, from community needs assessments and funding acquisition to onboarding, scheduling logistics, and continuous improvement.

Lunch: 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm

Join CAAP and MPowered for a CAP Infinity Advanced Tester Feedback Session during lunch.

Session 2

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

  • Home energy costs in Pennsylvania are increasing exponentially - causing an alarming increase in termination rates, and a cascade of consequences for economically vulnerable Pennsylvanians.  But what is behind higher costs, and what policies are being pursued at the national, state, and local level to help improve affordability of life essential energy services for economically vulnerable Pennsylvanians?  Join the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project for an interactive session, designed to help advocates and service providers understand the energy policy landscape, and how they can help improve client outcomes and influence policy decisions through partnership and collaboration.

  • Belonging isn’t just a feel-good concept, it’s the foundation for a stronger, more resilient organization. At Tri County Community Action, we’ve spent the past few years learning how to move from talking about belonging to making it part of everyday life. In this session, we’ll share our real journey: the sparks that got us started, the first steps that made the biggest difference, the quick wins that built momentum, and the challenges that taught us the most. You’ll see how we engaged staff at every level, wove our values into the work, and kept the energy going through creative activities, honest conversations, and clear accountability. Expect interactive elements, relatable stories, and take-home strategies you can start using right away. If you’re ready to build a workplace where people feel connected, valued, and empowered, this is where your blueprint begins.


  • Take a deeper dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the future of Community Action. This advanced session goes beyond the basics, focusing on emerging tools, next-generation applications, and lessons learned from early adopters. Explore how AI can be leveraged to personalize services, predict community needs, and unlock new efficiencies. Walk away with actionable strategies to position your organization at the forefront of innovation and impact.

Refreshment Break: 2:45 - 3:10 PM

Session 3

3:10 PM - 4:25 PM

  • Step into a dynamic and inclusive space where community action meets collective wisdom. The WAP Cohort Collaboration Circle is a breakout session designed to spark meaningful dialogue, share practical insights, and co-create solutions to the challenges we face in driving impact.  Come and network with all of the other PA WAP staff!

  • This panel brings together Community Action leaders and their board members for an honest conversation about collaboration, communication, and trust. Hear real-world examples of how boards and leadership teams can work in sync to strengthen organizational impact, navigate challenges, and foster positive, sustainable relationships that advance the mission of Community Action.

  • This session will walk through the updated Annual Report 3.0 for Community Action Agencies, highlighting key changes, reporting requirements, and best practices to ensure accuracy and compliance.

CAAPtivating Excellence Awards

Doors Open: 5:30 PM

Dinner: 6:00 PM

Program: 6:45 PM

Photobooth will be available all evening.

Semi-formal attire recommended.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Main Conference

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Registration: 7:00 am - 1:30 pm
Breakfast: 8:00 am - 9:00 am

🌟 Kickstart Your Morning at the Cohort Convo Tables! 🌟

Grab your breakfast and pull up a chair—our Cohort Convo Tables are the place to be! Whether you're in HR, Finance, Programs, Development & Communications, or a New ED/CEO, there’s a spot just for you.

These tables are all about real talk, shared wisdom, and building your network with peers who get it. Whether you're brand new or have years under your belt, there's always something (and someone) worth connecting with.

Look for the signs, find your crew, and join the convo—your next big idea or collaboration could start right here!

CAAP Store open: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

CAAP Plenary

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Join us as CAAP staff hits the main stage to highlight all the perks of membership—including new partnerships, upgraded services, and what’s ahead for the 2025-2026 program year.

Get the inside scoop on the exclusive resources, opportunities, and support available to CAAP members as we gear up for a year full of growth, collaboration, and innovation. Don’t miss it!

Refreshment Break: 10:00 am - 10:15 am

Session 4

Thursday, October 29th Breakout Sessions

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

  • This session explores the concept of impeccable intake and emphasizes the importance of consistently delivering high-quality intake experiences for every client. Participants will learn key preparatory steps professionals should take before initiating an intake, as well as techniques for creating a strong, positive first impression. The session provides strategies to enhance client engagement and build a solid foundation for successful service delivery.  The facilitator will conclude with practical advice to achieve success in social services and community action.

  • Building on the plenary, CAAP staff and DCED staff will host an interactive session to answer your questions and dive deeper into key topics. Interested in CAAPLearn or the Info Hub? See a live demo and discover the benefits these resources bring to your work.

  • In today’s workplace, employee wellness and recognition are no longer “nice to have” benefits—they’re essential drivers of engagement, retention, and organizational success. This session will explore the latest national trends and data on workplace wellness and recognition, paired with real-life examples from Community Action Lehigh Valley’s own programs. Through interactive reflection, group brainstorming, and practical tools, participants will learn how to design and implement meaningful initiatives that align with employee needs, strengthen culture, and deliver measurable results. You’ll leave with actionable, low-cost strategies to enhance morale, reduce turnover, and create a culture where employees feel valued and supported.

Networking Lunch: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm

Session 5

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

  • Join staff from the DCED Weatherization and Clean Energy Center for an open session dedicated to answering all your Weatherization questions. This is your opportunity to engage directly with program experts, gain clarity on guidelines, and explore resources to strengthen your agency’s Weatherization efforts.

  • Join leaders from a variety of Community Action Agencies as they share innovative approaches, challenges, and successes in driving community development. This session will highlight strategies for strengthening local partnerships, advancing economic opportunity, and building more resilient communities across Pennsylvania.

Refreshment Break: 2:00 - 2:15 pm

Closing Session: Hattie McCarter

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Be sure to pick up your goodie bag for a delightful farewell treat as you head home!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Register today!

The 2025 CAAP Conference brings together Pennsylvania organizations driven by heart and purpose. It’s where bold ideas, innovative solutions, and forward-thinking practices take root, grounded in the advocacy and leadership of those who came before us.