Safe Babies, A Program of ZERO TO THREE™, hosts the 20th annual Cross Sites Meeting, August 4-6, 2026.
For two decades, Cross Sites has brought together a powerful community of leaders, practitioners, and partners committed to improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. This milestone year honors the progress made, recognizes the legacy of leaders who have shaped this work, and serves as a force to deepen our collective impact.
The big picture: Cross Sites is more than a meeting. It’s a national learning community rooted in a shared commitment to strengthening families. Together, participants exchange ideas, elevate innovation, and apply the latest science to transform systems serving babies and toddlers involved in or at risk of entering child welfare.
20 years of impact
This year’s gathering will celebrate 20 years of learning, leadership, and systems change while equipping participants with the tools, connections, and inspiration to advance the Safe Babies approach and the implementation of the Infant-Toddler Court Program in their communities.
Grounded in a team-based approach that aligns courts, child welfare, and early childhood systems, Cross Sites continues to demonstrate how collaboration drives better outcomes for children and families.
Now, 20 years in, we continue to grow our branches, rooted in science, guided by the families we serve and looking ahead with purpose.
Whether you’ve joined Cross Sites for years or are stepping into this community for the first time, this anniversary gathering is one you won’t want to miss, and an opportunity to share your Safe Babies story and help shape what comes next.
Registration
Registration to attend the in-person Cross Sites 2026 event is open for Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Infant-Toddler Court Program (ITCP) Grantees and states/sites actively implementing and exploring the Safe Babies approach.
For questions regarding registration, please email [email protected].
Program at-a-glance
The agenda features 2.5 days of dynamic, cross-sector learning for judges, attorneys, child welfare professionals, community coordinators, statewide coordinators, mental health clinicians, parent leaders, and other community partners, bringing together perspectives to strengthen systems and support families.
Tuesday, August 4
- HRSA Infant-Toddler Court Program Grantee Meeting
- Judges’ Convening
- Attorney Convening, in partnership with the American Bar Association
- Role-specific sessions
- Networking event
Wednesday, August 5
- Tribal welcome by the National Indian Child Welfare Association
- Welcome remarks
- Opening General Session
- Full day of sessions and programming
Thursday, August 6
- Half-day of sessions and programming
- Team meetings
- Closing General Session
General Session Speakers
TBD
2026 Sponsors and Partners
This meeting is hosted by ZERO TO THREE and the HRSA-funded Infant-Toddler Court Program National Resource Center and in partnership with Help Me Grow; National Indian Child Welfare Association; Family Voices; American Academy of Pediatrics; Center for the Study of Social Policy; American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law; the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; and an independent evaluation team at James Bell Associates.
Acknowledgements
The National Infant-Toddler Court Program was made possible through the support of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $7,636,913 with 0 percent financed from non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
ZERO TO THREE deeply appreciates Ballmer Group for its generous support of our work to scale the Safe Babies approach. We’d like to especially thank Connie Ballmer for her vision and commitment to transforming the child welfare system so that all babies thrive. Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities.
