A HISTORY OF CCFC

Building a Movement for Families and Children
The Children Come First Conference (CCFC) is more than an event—it’s the result of decades of family-driven advocacy, system reform, and collaboration across Wisconsin. Presented by Wisconsin Family Ties, the conference stands as a statewide cornerstone in the fight for accessible, coordinated mental health care for children and youth.


The Children Come First Law: A Turning Point
The roots of the Children Come First Conference lie in the Children Come First Law (Wis. Stat. § 46.56), passed in 1989. This landmark legislation called for a comprehensive system of coordinated care for children involved in two or more systems of care—such as education, juvenile justice, child welfare, and mental health.


The law recognized that too many children were falling through the cracks of disconnected systems. It established the Children Come First Advisory Committee (CCFAC) to guide the development of statewide initiatives and authorized the creation of Integrated Services Projects (ISP)—an innovative, community-based approach to treatment that pioneered what is now widely known as Wraparound care.

Thanks to persistent efforts from Wisconsin Family Ties parents—many of whom testified at hearings and worked behind the scenes—the law was grounded in lived family experience. That same spirit of family leadership and system collaboration became the heart of the Children Come First Conference.


The First Children Come First Conference: 1990
The inaugural Children Come First Conference was held September 18–19, 1990, at the Cousins Conference Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was presented by the Wisconsin Council on Human Concerns and supported by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation of the Wisconsin Bar through the Calliope Project.


Keynote speakers at the first event included: 

  • Marva Benjamin, A.C.S.W. – “Cultural Competency” 
  • Iowa State Senator Charles Bruner, Ph.D. – “Strategies for Collaboration in Meeting Family Needs” 
  • Judge Charles B. Schudson – “Making Courts Safe for Children” 
  • Harry H. Wright, M.D., M.B.A. – “Providing Psychiatric Treatment in a Community-Based Setting” 


From the very beginning, Wisconsin Family Ties was an integral part of the planning committee, ensuring families were at the center of the conversation.


Transition and Transformation: Wisconsin Family Ties Takes the Lead
In 2008, with the original host organization stepping away, the future of the conference was uncertain. That’s when Wisconsin Family Ties stepped in to preserve and expand the event’s mission.


Wisconsin Family Ties assumed full responsibility for the conference, aligning its scope with the organization’s mission: to support families of children with social, emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. This expansion included: 

  • Youth Track programming for attendees ages 6–18 
  • A stronger focus on family participation, with scholarships facilitated by WFT
  • High-profile keynotes, such as Pete Feigal, Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh, and live performances like the Figureheads' opening concert 


The conference moved to its now-iconic home: the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, a venue that has since become synonymous with CCFC.


Notable Moments & Milestones

  • 2009: Launch of the official Children Come First Conference logo, designed by Morgan Davis.
  • 2011: The Figureheads release “Is Anyone Listening?”, an album rooted in themes of resilience. 
  • 2012: First collaboration with Dr. Ross Greene, nationally recognized for his work on Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS). 
  • 2013: Conference held in Wausau to better serve northern Wisconsin families; featured film screening of “Who Cares About Kelsey?” with keynote by creator Dan Habib and subject Kelsey. 
  • 2018: Record-breaking attendance of over 800 participants; keynotes by Dr. Ross Greene and Tamra Oman
  • 2019: Keynote by Dr. Mona Delahooke, whose talk was visually documented in real-time by a graphic artist. 
  • 2020: Planned return to the Kalahari paused due to COVID-19; no conference held that year. 
  • 2023: Return to full capacity with growing youth engagement and continued emphasis on resilience and system reform. 


Legacy of Leadership
From 1990 to today, the Children Come First Conference has been a testament to what’s possible when families, professionals, and policymakers come together. Whether it’s the passage of transformative legislation, the evolution of wraparound care, or the elevation of youth and family voice—CCFC is where change begins.

 
Looking Ahead
In April 2026, Wisconsin Family Ties made the heartbreaking decision to close its doors due to ongoing funding constraints. This difficult moment marked the end of a beloved organization that had long championed families across Wisconsin and proudly hosted the Children Come First Conference for many years.

Out of a steadfast commitment to ensure CCFC would continue, former Wisconsin Family Ties staff came together to form Children Come First Connections LLC (CCF Connections). While this new organization represents a fresh chapter, the mission, values, and experienced organizers behind CCFC remain the same. Looking ahead, CCF Connections is honored to carry this conference forward—preserving what attendees know and love while continuing to create meaningful spaces for connection, learning, and community.