01
Education
Hands-on workshops and continuing education unit-eligible sessions from CAPPA's leading educators.
Experience the 2026 Convening ● Grow your perinatal practice ● Build your network ● Every family. Every baby. Everywhere. ● July 30 + 31, 2026 · Philadelphia ●
Experience the 2026 Convening ● Grow your perinatal practice ● Build your network ● Every family. Every baby. Everywhere. ● July 30 + 31, 2026 · Philadelphia ●
In Real Life
Philadelphia, PA
Convening
July 30 + 31, 2026
Drexel University · Philadelphia
Every family. Every baby. Everywhere.
Two days of education, connection, and celebration for birth professionals, doulas, educators, and advocates. CAPPA's first in-person gathering since 2022, and the next chapter of what we do together.
Register to Attend in Philadelphia
Can't make it? Get Everywhere Access (Virtual)
$25 off through July 29
00
Days
00
Hours
00
Minutes
00
Seconds
125
Seats
3
Days
10+
Sessions
2027
Conference Preview
Two days to learn,
connect, and celebrate.
Why Attend
02
Community
Two days of real conversation with the doulas, educators, and nurses doing the work.
03
Celebration
Vendor tables and a Welcome Meetup to honor what we built together.
From the archives
Bringing the best of CAPPA's past
into Convening 2026.
More than twenty years of birth professionals gathering, learning, and lifting each other up. We are taking the moments that made CAPPA, the conversations, the laughter, the late-night hallway debates, and carrying them into Philadelphia.
What You'll Hear
Topics on the table.
From clinical practice to business building, our sessions span the full breadth of perinatal work. Expect deep dives, fresh research, and a few voices from outside the birth world.
Doula Care
Lactation Education
Childbirth Education
Perinatal Mental Health
Trauma-Informed Care
Cultural Humility and Equity
Business Building
Burnout Prevention
Perinatal Research
Postpartum Support
Certification and CEUs
Voices from Beyond the Birth World
The Schedule
Convening Agenda
Two days of education plus an optional Welcome Meetup to kick things off. Here is the finalized schedule, from the opening keynote to the final session.
5:00 PM
Welcome Meetup
Happy hour kickoff at the Sheraton Philadelphia University City, on campus. Open to all: attendees, sponsors, CAPPA trainers, and staff. Registration and check-in open Thursday morning at breakfast.
8:30 AM
Breakfast & Registration
Check in, enjoy breakfast, and visit vendor tables.
9:30 AM
Welcome
Opening Welcome from CAPPA President, Prinscilla Moore.
9:45 AM
The Paternal Conversation
Joel Austin & Panel
10:45 AM
Break
Stretch, refill, and connect.
11:00 AM
Breakout Session 1
Choose your session
Melissa PattiMarch of Dimes Report on Maternal and Infant Health Care
Melanie SandovalRooted in Community: Building Trust, Equity, and Impact in Birth Work
12:00 PM
Lunch
Catered lunch with time to explore vendor tables.
1:15 PM
Breakout Session 2
Choose your session
Jill WodnickLegislation, Appropriations, Medicaid and More: The Current Landscape of Public Policy and Doula Work
Liza Kaplan MontaninoThe Truth About Sleep Training: Supporting Sleep, Breastfeeding, and Maternal Well-Being
2:15 PM
Break
Stretch, refill, and connect.
2:30 PM
Breakout Session 3
Choose your session
Ashley RobinsonBreastfeeding and Epigenics
Abby BordnerThe First Three Months: Attachment, Bonding, and Early Brain Development
3:30 PM
Break
Stretch, refill, and connect.
3:45 PM
Breakout Session 4
Choose your session
Nicole HarlotThe Importance of Collaboration in Perinatal Care
Kaybee BeachBeyond Birth: Reimagining Parent Education for the Modern Family
4:45 PM
Closing & Personal Reflection
Day 1 closing and personal reflection time in the Center Room.
5:00 PM
Evening · Free Time
The evening is yours. Explore Philadelphia, gather a group for dinner, and rest up before Day Two.
8:30 AM
Light Breakfast & Morning Welcome
Fuel up and settle in for the final day.
9:00 AM
Breakout Session 5
Choose your session
Jodi CongdonBuilding Your Network and Net Worth with an Online Membership Community
Alexia · CoCo LifeSession title coming soon
10:00 AM
Break
Stretch, refill, and connect.
10:15 AM
Breakout Session 6
Choose your session
Debbie HullFierce Advocacy: Simple Techniques
Nicole McNelisFrom Mom Rage to Resilience: The Transformative Power of Maternal Rage
11:15 AM
Closing
Final reflections and a group send-off from the CAPPA team.
Speakers
Meet the 2026 lineup.
A national roster of CAPPA educators, doulas, clinicians, and advocates sharing the newest thinking in perinatal care, on the Main Stage in Philadelphia and Back Stage on demand.
Main Stage In-Person Presenters
Jill Wodnick
MA, LCCE, IMH, Doula
Legislation, Appropriations, Medicaid and More
A. Kahailia Beach-Leathers
Postpartum & Labor Doula, CIFE, IBCLC Intern
Beyond Birth: Reimagining Parent Education for the Modern Family
Nicole Harlot
Founder & President, Perinatal Resource Collaborative
The Importance of Collaboration in Perinatal Care
Liza Kaplan Montanino
Certified Pediatric & Special Needs Sleep Consultant
The Truth About Sleep Training
Ashley Robinson
DrPH, IBCLC, CLE, CLD
Breastfeeding and Epigenetics
Nicole McNelis
M.Ed., NCC, LPC, PMH-C
From Mom Rage to Resilience
Joel Austin
CPPD (CAPPA) · President/CEO, Daddy University
The Paternal Conversation
Debbie Hull
BS, CLD, CCCE · CAPPA Senior Program Advisor
Fierce Advocacy: Simple Techniques
Melanie Sandoval
CAPPA CD · Founder, Doula Things with Mel
Rooted in Community: Trust, Equity, and Impact
Jodi Congdon
CLE, CPD · Founder, Birth Boss Society
Building Your Network and Net Worth
Melissa Patti
LCSW · Maternal & Infant Health, March of Dimes
March of Dimes Report on Maternal & Infant Health
Back Stage Virtual Presenters
★ Featured Keynote
The Paternal Conversation
In an intimate fireside conversation, actress and Baby Yams founder Tatyana Ali opens up about her maternal health journey: her first birth, the moment that changed her, and why she created Baby Yams for families. Streaming on demand with Everywhere Access.
Hosted by
Prinscilla Moore
CAPPA President · CEO, Delighted to Doula
Roeshell (Shelly) Matthews
BS Ed., CCCE (CAPPA)
Making Your Classes Interactive, Educational, and Fun
Jenny Kozlow
Perinatal Educator, Author & Speaker
Giving Birth from the Right Side of the Brain
Dr. Rajeswari K
MBBS, MD (AIIMS), CGO
From Data to Action: Birth Workers and Birth Equity
Sonali Shivlani
CAPPA CBE, CLE, CPFE, CNPE, CLD · Director, CAPPA India
The Silent Mental Load of Pregnancy
Abby Bordner
CLD, CPD, CLE · CAPPA Advisor & Trainer
The First Three Months: Attachment, Bonding, and Brain Development
Galissa Jones
BA, CLC, CPD, CCCE (CAPPA)
Beyond the Visit: The Postpartum Doula on the Care Team
Rotem Pearlson
PCD (DONA), CLE (CAPPA)
Surviving the First Weeks with a Newborn
Dr. Betel Aklilu
DC, MSCN, CACCP
Heal & Rebuild Postpartum
Lydia Laparra Garcia
CLE (CAPPA)
Bond and Beyond: Supporting Families Through Weaning
Rosa Neves
CCCE, CIFE, CNPE, CPD, R-PLC · Workplace Doula
Beyond the Birth Plan: Demystifying Parental Leave
Registration
Get Your Tickets
125 seats. One room. Two days designed to reconnect, re-energize, and reimagine what's possible for the perinatal profession.
CAPPA Member
$225
/ Ticket
Full 2-day conference access
Welcome Meetup (July 29, optional)
Breakfast and lunch on Day 1
Light breakfast on Day 2
Vendor tables and networking
Virtual Conference lifetime access, with 15+ CEUs available to earn
Community access group
Non-Member
$275
/ Ticket
Full 2-day conference access
Welcome Meetup (July 29, optional)
Breakfast and lunch on Day 1
Light breakfast on Day 2
Vendor tables and networking
Virtual Conference lifetime access
Community access group
Open to all attendees
Can't travel to Philly? Get $25 off Everywhere Access through July 29 at 11:59pm.
Get Everywhere Access (Virtual)Member Savings
Save $50 on your ticket.
Plus $75 toward a CAPPA training.
CAPPA members register for the Convening at $225 instead of $275. New members also receive a $75 sign-up bonus you can apply to any CAPPA training or certification course. Your membership pays for itself before you land in Philadelphia.
- $50 off your Convening registration
- $75 sign-up bonus toward any CAPPA training
- Lifetime access to the Convening recordings CEU course
- Member-only Community group, continuing education, and resources
Can't travel?
Everywhere Access
In-person in Philadelphia is the heart of the Convening. But if you can't make the trip, Everywhere Access brings it to you: on-demand recordings of every session, yours to keep.
$25 off through July 29
- All Convening sessions, recorded and yours to rewatch anytime
- 15+ CEUs toward recertification (one short assessment per session)
- CAPPA Convening Community Group access
- Lifetime access, with the recorded library opening August 1, 2026
In-person seats are limited to 125. Everywhere Access is the next best seat in the house.
Sponsorship
Power the Convening.
Get your brand in front of 125 perinatal practitioners and the wider CAPPA community. Four tiers below, with custom packages available.
1 spot left
Learn More
Full Bloom Presenting
$5,000
"Presented by" branding on all materials and website
Speaking opportunity at the Convening
Social media and email campaign recognition
Dedicated social media highlight
2 complimentary tickets
Logo visible on virtual agenda and event website
Promotion in virtual conference community
Vendor booth (1 table + 2 chairs)
Complimentary attendee gifts or promotional items added to the event swag bag
2 SPOTS LEFT
Learn More
Rooted Impact
$2,000
Social media and email campaign recognition
Dedicated social media highlight
2 complimentary tickets
Logo visible on virtual agenda and event website
Promotion in virtual conference community
Vendor booth (1 table + 2 chairs) or infomercial during the event
Complimentary attendee gifts or promotional items added to the event swag bag
2 SPOTS LEFT
Learn More
Bouquet
$1,000
Logo visible on virtual agenda and event website
Promotion in virtual conference community
Vendor booth (1 table + 2 chairs) or infomercial during the event
Complimentary attendee gifts or promotional items added to the event swag bag
8 spots left
Learn More
Seed of Support
$300
Logo visible on virtual agenda and event website
Opportunity to provide promotional materials for attendee swag bags
The Venue
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nestled in the heart of University City, Drexel University provides the perfect backdrop for CAPPA's return to in-person connection. Modern facilities, easy transit access, and steps from Philadelphia's vibrant museum district.
Getting there: 30th Street Station (Amtrak/SEPTA) is a 10-minute walk. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 20 minutes by train. Parking is available on campus.
Venue
Drexel University
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you book your seat.
Yes. The CAPPA Convening is open to everyone: birth doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation educators, midwives, nurses, social workers, students, community members, and birthing persons. You do not need to be a CAPPA member to attend. CAPPA members receive a discounted registration rate.
CAPPA members register for $225 and get lifetime access to the conference recordings CEU course included. Non-members register for $275. Both rates include full access to the two-day conference, the optional Welcome Meetup, breakfast and lunch on Day 1, and the vendor tables.
CAPPA members register for $225, a $50 savings off the non-member rate. If you are not already a member, you can join CAPPA and then register for the Convening at the member rate. Membership also unlocks ongoing CEU access, member-only resources, and the CAPPA Community group.
Tickets are non-refundable but they are transferable. You can transfer your registration to another attendee up until July 19, 2026. If you need to arrange a transfer, reach out via the contact form on this site.
Yes. Breakfast and lunch are provided on Thursday, July 30 (Day 1). Light bites and refreshments are included at the optional Welcome Meetup on July 29. You can note any dietary restrictions during registration.
After you register, we will send you a Travel and Dining Guide with hotel recommendations, transit tips, and our favorite spots near Drexel University. The venue is a short walk from 30th Street Station and easy to reach from Philadelphia International Airport via train.
After the Convening closes on Friday, July 31, enjoy optional self-guided opportunities around Philadelphia at your own pace, including the nearby museum district.
Yes. We offer four sponsorship tiers and vendor booth options, with custom packages available. See the full sponsorship and vendor lineup at our Convening sponsorship page, or reach out via the contact form to discuss.
The CAPPA Conference returns in 2027 as a full four-day event. Convening attendees will have the opportunity to purchase early-bird tickets for 2027 at an exclusive attendee discount during the closing ceremony.
Bring a notebook, business cards, comfortable shoes for the museum adventure, and your passion for supporting families. All sessions will be held at Drexel University. A professional but relaxed dress code is appropriate.
Have burning questions? Contact us.
