The i2i Center Winter Conference will be January 13-15, 2026 in Winston-Salem at the Benton Convention Center. We are seeking experienced individuals to provide participants with cutting-edge knowledge, perspectives, abilities, and tools to navigate and enhance partnerships for success in North Carolina’s Medicaid managed and integrated care program. We are interested in exploring innovations in whole person care approaches, addressing value-based care and embracing the growing opportunities to utilize technology for service users, management and practice.
Audience
This conference brings together leaders and stakeholders (700-800 participants) from the behavioral health, I/DD and health care systems. Attendees include managers and executive team leaders and owners from provider agencies, public and private Medicaid plan managers, individual behavioral health and I/DD professionals, clinicians, State and local agency leaders, elected officials, hospital leaders, members/beneficiaries, family members, advocates and others. We are also seeking to include integrated care partners from the medical, social, education and justice systems.
Submission Topics
We are seeking in-person presentations for 1.5-hour didactic learning topics and 1-hour Sparking Innovation topics focused on sharing innovative projects and programs. All proposals should aim to address policy issues and implications, services, individual member involvement, and/or administrative aspects of the topic. Submissions relevant to integrated care partners will be of high interest and those featuring state and national subject matter experts are also desired.
NEW – Advancing Success Topics
We’re excited to introduce a new category of training called Advancing Success topics, which will be featured on the Pre-Conference Day of the event (13th). These sessions are sponsored and offer a unique opportunity to showcase how your product or service can support and benefit our attendees.
Marketed to the audience as “a new category of i2i Center offerings designed to support payors, providers, and users in exploring innovative products, services, and tools available to boost your success,” these sessions position your organization as a key player in driving innovation and practical solutions within the industry. By sponsoring a session, your organization not only gains visibility and engagement with a targeted audience but also helps significantly reduce registration fees for the Pre-Conference Day, encouraging greater attendance and impact.
If you have questions about sponsoring and Advancing Success topic, please email Jean Overstreet, Development and Communications Director at jean@i2icenter.org .
CONFERENCE TOPICS
WHOLE PERSON, INTEGRATED CARE – Innovations in whole person, integrated care that improve collaboration between mental health, intellectual-developmental disabilities and substance use services and health and human service providers that advance whole person care: (ex. new protocols, service supports, systems or technologies that enhance collaboration among providers and advance quality, whole person care).
OPERATIONS – Improvements in services and/or administrative operations that advance whole person care in a managed care environment: (ex. population health approaches, care management innovation, cross-system formalized partnerships, value-based contracting, workforce improvements, addressing unmet health needs and non-medical drivers of health).
POLICY – New State and Federal policy changes impacting MH/IDD/SUD services (ex: Medicaid and other discretionary funding for health and human services, child welfare system reform, addressing population needs)
LEADERSHIP – Leadership development that addresses innovation, change management, fostering a positive work environment and stabilizing the workforce in uncertain times.
USING DATA SYSTEMS – Importance of data, data sharing and system integration that can track and report outcomes in real-time, provide interface between providers, payers, care managers, CINs and ACOs, and track milestones for alternative payment mechanisms.
TECHNOLOGY – Technological advancements that improve individual care and/or organizational management (ex: AI, technology-enabled supports, digital interoperability, digital integration and transformation, consumer self-management technology, cyber security, robot technology etc.)
ADVOCACY/SOCIETAL – Innovations or initiatives to improve service-user outcomes, participation and/or access to care (ex: self-advocacy initiatives, community-based system linkages, strengthening the family voice, community inclusion, employment, recovery, expanding the use of peer support services, partnerships with schools, social services and the justice system).
CLINICAL – Clinical and Other Topics: Innovation in the treatment of opioid addiction, suicide prevention, whole person care, foster care, collaborations across health and human service systems/professionals, veterans care, and unmet health-related needs.
SPECIALTY TOPICS: Focusing on health optimization for North Carolinians, new and innovative alternative services, addressing waiting lists.