Save the Date!
61st NYSSSWA State Conference
November 11 – 13, 2026
at
The Hotel Ithaca & the Ithaca Conference Center!
NYSSSWA is so excited to announce that after 3 years of sold out conferences, we have contracted with the new, modern and well equipped Ithaca Downtown Conference Center for our 2026 State Conference with accommodations around the corner at the newly renovated Hotel Ithaca!
The Conference Program is Finalized!
The theme for the 61st New York State School Social Workers’ Association Conference is: “The New School Social Work Reality: Supporting Student Mental Health in a Changing and Complex World”. The Conference Committee has confirmed all of our presenters and finalized our Program! We will be offering a Wednesday evening “Pre-Conference” yoga session with light snacks to follow on November 11th with our full conference on November 12th & 13th. On Thursday, November 12th we will also host an Hors d’oeuvre Reception at the Ithaca Hotel.
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz, LCSW: “School Social Work in the Age of AI” which will be later followed by a session on “AI and Youth Mental Health”
Kimberly Morrow, LCSW will be presenting 2 General Sessions:
- “Helping Students Overcome the Power of Perfectionism” and
- “Navigating Student Anxiety: Real Cases, Practical Solutions for School Social Workers” which she will co-present with her daughter, Brianna Morrow.
Stephanie Marquesano, JD: “From Pain to Purpose: Rethinking Co-Occurring Disorders in Youth” which will be followed later with a 3 hour training session on “Implementing and Supporting the COD Curriculum in High School Settings”.
Session Topics Include: 
Addressing Attendance, Tapping, Threat Assessment, BIPs & FBAs, Ethics, DBT-Practical Skills, Special Ed, Anxiety Skills Groups, Behavior Modification, Self Regulation, Working with LGBTQ+ Youth, Burnout Prevention, Human Trafficking, and more…
See Conference Program for complete details and workshop descriptions.
Click to Download: Conference Program Schedule of Events
Start Making Plans:
If you have not done so already, start talking with your district regarding funding and time off to join School Social Workers from across the State of New York for professional development dedicated to the needs of School Social Workers and the students, educators and parents we serve! (See further down the page for more information and letters you can use to make your appeal.)
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca and the Ithaca Conference Center
Registration Opened June 1, 2026 to NYSSSWA Members
Be Sure To Be at the “Head of the Line”
Since we have sold out the last 3 years, we would like to acknowledge our NYSSSWA members and give them first priority regarding registration to “Save My Spot” for the Fall State Conference even prior to finalizing the program. Registration is NOW open to NYSSSWA MEMBERS ONLY. If you are a NYSSSWA FULL, ASSOCIATE, RETIRED or STUDENT member, you can register NOW!
If You Have Already Registered:
You can now go back to your registration and have first choice of selecting your workshop sessions. Use the following step by step Tutorial to add or update your Conference Sessions & Meal Selections. (Don’t forget to include the meals you will be attending.)
“Membership” — Please note: Everyone in NYSSSWA’s system is a “member” according to our system. However, if you are a Non-Member “member”, your membership has expired or you have not been a NYSSSWA member. If YOU would like to be among the first to be able to “Save My Spot”, register for the conference, and select your sessions; we encourage you to Join Now or make sure your NYSSSWA membership has been renewed and is current. (Log in to your NYSSSWA account to see your membership status/expiration date or contact member.services@nyssswa.org.)
Join NYSSSWA Here or Renew Membership Here
Photo Credit: Dreamstime?
Conference Fees?
The Conference Committee has again agreed that the Regular Conference Fees will remain the same as they have been for the past few years.
Full & Associate Members: $399
Retired & Student Members: $349
Non-members: $499
Note that NYSSSWA membership is $85 if you would like to receive the discounted Member Rate, so consider joining or renewing today!!
When registering note: “Early Bird Price” = Regular Rate Registration according to your NYSSSWA Membership Status. So if you register “Early” (by 10/9/2026), you save $50 (applies to NYSSSWA paid Members as well as Non-Members).
Late Fee: A $50 Late Fee will be added on October 9.
Registration will CLOSE on November 1, 2026!
Photo Credit: Dreamstime MadArtists
The Hotel Ithaca
Where: 222 South Cayuga St Ithaca, NY 14850
“Enjoy a stay at Hotel Ithaca, ideally situated close to the city’s top attractions” and just around the corner for the Ithaca Conference Center. The hotel is also just minutes away from the finger lakes and “Ithaca’s breathtaking gorges, picturesque hiking trails, and the historic Cornell University campus. Savor the flavors of local wineries, browse the lively farmers’ markets, and dive into Ithaca’s unique art and culture scene—all within easy reach of the hotel.”
Hotel Room Fees: Rooms have been contracted for at The Hotel Ithaca around the corner from the Ithaca Conference Center for November 11 & 12 at $139.00 a night ($164.02 with tax). Additional room blocks are being explored with hotels very close by (easy walking distance). Free Parking is available onsite, with nearby garage parking validated for registered guests.
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca
Reservation Policy:
In order to assign room accommodations to individuals, each guest will need to guarantee their reservation by Wednesday, October 28, 2026. If reservations are not made by stated cutoff date, rooms may be reserved on a space only availability basis (rates could also vary). Please note that once the NYSSSWA hotel block is filled, conference rates may no longer apply. Hotel Reservation Link Pending.
Hotel Policies:
The total balance of individual guest stay must be paid upon check in. It is understood that all deposits are non-refundable, and payments must be made in US funds. Early departures from original reservations are non-refundable.
Tax exempt: If your reservation is to be tax-exempt, the hotel will need a signed copy of the TE form presented to the reception desk at the time of check-in.
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation up to 2 Days (48 Hours) prior to arrival date.
Why Come to Ithaca?
Last year CNN reported that Ithaca is one of “America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2025”.
“Ithaca’s not the kind of place where you drive for an hour, hike for miles, then finally lay eyes on an underwhelming trickle of a waterfall. The landscape in and around this friendly upstate New York town is so jampacked with falls — more than 150 within a 10-mile radius — that you don’t have to go far before coming upon another one, often more impressive than the last…
A showstopper when it comes to scenery, Ithaca sits at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, the longest of New York’s Finger Lakes, surrounded by fertile land that’s home to wineries, cider houses and farms that stock produce-forward restaurants downtown.”
So take advantage of Veterans’ Day and come early or stay later to enjoy the Finger Lakes too!
Source: Hunter, , 2026-June, CNN
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca
Need Help Convincing Your Supervisor or Superintendent?
If you have not done so already, meet with your supervisor to request funds. (There may be funds left over for 2025-2026 year or secure funds from the 2026-27 year.) NYSSSWA has put together a couple of sample initial letters that you can draw from to submit to your supervisor. Feel free to adapt to meet your needs.
Convince Your Supervisor–Letter 1 (Generic)
Convince Your Supervisor–Letter 2 (Includes the opportunity to list a few sessions that may be specifically pertinent to you and your district.)