About this Event
2026 Conference Theme is Real Help Happens Here.
Registration includes 2 plenary sessions, 2 breakout sessions (choice of 4 topics), participation in Inform Michigan's Annual Membership Meeting, lunch & snack as well as plenty of opportunities for networking and building connections!
Special virtual appearance by Steve Rippe, Inform USA Executive Director!
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration
Info: Registration begins at 8:30am. Light breakfast refreshments provided
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome & Open Plenary Session
Info: "Strengthening Community Navigation: National Standards, Local Collaboration and Better Connections to Care" Join Steve Rippe of Inform USA and Jennie Pollak of Inform Michigan for an engaging plenary session that centers the heart of Community Navigation: meeting people where they are, listening with care, and helping them find a path forward. Highlighting the good work happening in the field across Michigan and the United States, this session will explore how Inform USA unites human service professionals around shared Standards, skills, and knowledge to strengthen meaningful connections between people and the resources that improve quality of life. Attendees will also learn how Inform Michigan is building communication and collaboration among Community Navigation providers, supporting members in achieving and maintaining national standards, advancing quality through professional development and education, and increasing awareness of the services and supports available to Michiganders
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Inform Michigan Annual Meeting
Info: Participants are invited to attend the Inform Michigan Annual Membership Meeting and learn 2026 highlights in the Community Navigation field throughout Michigan and how to get involved!
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Breakout 1A: From Burnout to Balance
Info: Participants can chose from 2 breakout sessions. "From Burnout to Balance: How Respite Care Supports Both Caregivers and Care Recipients" presented by Nakira Jordan from Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA). Caregiving can be rewarding, but without adequate support, the ongoing physical and emotional demands can lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. This interactive session explores how respite care can provide essential relief for caregivers while also promoting the well-being, safety, and quality of life of care recipients. Participants will learn to recognize signs of caregiver burnout, explore different types of respite care, identify common barriers to accepting help, and discuss practical strategies for incorporating respite into a sustainable caregiving plan. Through discussion, real-life scenarios, and interactive activities, participants will leave with a better understanding of why caring for the caregiver is an important part of caring for the person they support.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Breakout 1B: The C in CIE: Building Bridges Out of Poverty
Info: Participants can choose from 2 breakout sessions. "The C in CIE: Building Bridges Out of Poverty" is presented by Sarah Kile, Michigan 211. Discover how the "C" in Community Information Exchange pairs with Bridges Out of Poverty concepts to transform referral networks into lasting social capital that puts humans first.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
Info: Enjoy a hot buffet lunch with plenty of time for networking
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Breakout 2A: Suicide Prevention with Older Adults
Info: Participants can chose from 2 breakout sessions. "Suicide Prevention with Older Adults" presented by Mayim Meyers, Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit. discuss mental health of older adults and how to support it. She will discuss the spectrum of suicide, including suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt, and how to interact with someone may be thinking of suicide. Participants will leave with resources that they can use, same day, to help people.
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Breakout 2B: Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Info: Participants can choose from 2 breakout sessions. Presented by Tonya Joy, MSHDA Neighborhood Development Division Director, this session will provide an overview of the services and supports available through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), as well as guidance on how Michigan residents and Community Navigation professionals can connect with those resources.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
Closing Plenary Session: Beyond the Trenches
Info: "Beyond the Trenches: How to Stay True to Yourself While Giving So Much From Your Cup to Others" presented by Becky Eizen, from Eizen Consulting Group and former Information Michigan Board Member. Caring for others deeply doesn’t mean pouring from an empty cup; staying connected to your own needs, values, and passions allows you to give from a place of strength rather than depletion. It’s about creating healthy boundaries, making space for yourself, and remembering that honoring who you are is not selfish—it’s what allows you to continue showing up wholeheartedly for others.
🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:00 PM
Paws, Reflection & Renewal
Info: Fill your cup with a visit from Healing Hooves Helping Paws animal friends!
Event venue & nearby stays
The MTG Space, 4039 Legacy Parkway, Lansing, United States
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