diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/AzureAgentProvider.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/AzureAgentProvider.cs
index 7a0780e456..141233c2cb 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/AzureAgentProvider.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/AzureAgentProvider.cs
@@ -42,20 +42,21 @@ public sealed class AzureAgentProvider(string projectEndpoint, TokenCredential p
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
-    public override Task CreateMessageAsync(string conversationId, ChatMessage conversationMessage, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    public override Task<ChatMessage> CreateMessageAsync(string conversationId, ChatMessage conversationMessage, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         // TODO: Switch to asynchronous "CreateMessageAsync", when fix properly applied:
         //  BUG: https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/issues/52571
         //   PR: https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/pull/52653
-        this.GetAgentsClient().Messages.CreateMessage(
-            conversationId,
-            role: s_roleMap[conversationMessage.Role.Value.ToUpperInvariant()],
-            contentBlocks: GetContent(),
-            attachments: null,
-            metadata: GetMetadata(),
-            cancellationToken);
+        PersistentThreadMessage newMessage =
+            this.GetAgentsClient().Messages.CreateMessage(
+                conversationId,
+                role: s_roleMap[conversationMessage.Role.Value.ToUpperInvariant()],
+                contentBlocks: GetContent(),
+                attachments: null,
+                metadata: GetMetadata(),
+                cancellationToken);
 
-        return Task.CompletedTask;
+        return Task.FromResult(ToChatMessage(newMessage));
 
         Dictionary<string, string>? GetMetadata()
         {
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Events/ConversationUpdateEvent.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Events/ConversationUpdateEvent.cs
index f10f2c2fa2..c14dde20f1 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Events/ConversationUpdateEvent.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Events/ConversationUpdateEvent.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ public sealed class ConversationUpdateEvent : WorkflowEvent
     /// </summary>
     public string ConversationId { get; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Is the conversation associated with the workflow.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool IsWorkflow { get; internal init; }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of <see cref="ConversationUpdateEvent"/>.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/AgentProviderExtensions.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/AgentProviderExtensions.cs
index 3d2ab82664..20a825454a 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/AgentProviderExtensions.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/AgentProviderExtensions.cs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ internal static class AgentProviderExtensions
                 agent.RunStreamingAsync(null, options, cancellationToken);
 
         // Enable "autoSend" behavior if this is the workflow conversation.
-        bool isWorkflowConversation = context.IsWorkflowConversation(conversationId);
+        bool isWorkflowConversation = context.IsWorkflowConversation(conversationId, out string? workflowConversationId);
         autoSend |= isWorkflowConversation;
 
         // Process the agent response updates.
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ internal static class AgentProviderExtensions
             await context.AddEventAsync(new AgentRunResponseEvent(executorId, response)).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
-        if (autoSend && !isWorkflowConversation && conversationId is not null)
+        if (autoSend && !isWorkflowConversation && workflowConversationId is not null)
         {
             // Copy messages with content that aren't function calls or results.
             IEnumerable<ChatMessage> messages =
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ internal static class AgentProviderExtensions
                         !message.Contents.OfType<FunctionResultContent>().Any());
             foreach (ChatMessage message in messages)
             {
-                await agentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(conversationId, message, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                await agentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(workflowConversationId, message, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/IWorkflowContextExtensions.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/IWorkflowContextExtensions.cs
index eb82ee796b..4e2815f218 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/IWorkflowContextExtensions.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Extensions/IWorkflowContextExtensions.cs
@@ -38,25 +38,39 @@ internal static class IWorkflowContextExtensions
     public static FormulaValue ReadState(this IWorkflowContext context, string key, string? scopeName = null) =>
         DeclarativeContext(context).State.Get(key, scopeName);
 
-    public static async ValueTask QueueConversationUpdateAsync(this IWorkflowContext context, string conversationId)
+    public static async ValueTask QueueConversationUpdateAsync(this IWorkflowContext context, string conversationId, bool isExternal = false)
     {
         RecordValue conversation = (RecordValue)context.ReadState(SystemScope.Names.Conversation, VariableScopeNames.System);
-        conversation.UpdateField("Id", FormulaValue.New(conversationId));
-        await context.QueueSystemUpdateAsync(SystemScope.Names.Conversation, conversation).ConfigureAwait(false);
-        await context.QueueSystemUpdateAsync(SystemScope.Names.ConversationId, FormulaValue.New(conversationId)).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
-        await context.AddEventAsync(new ConversationUpdateEvent(conversationId)).ConfigureAwait(false);
-    }
-
-    public static bool IsWorkflowConversation(this IWorkflowContext context, string? conversationId)
-    {
-        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(conversationId))
+        if (isExternal)
         {
-            return false;
+            conversation.UpdateField("Id", FormulaValue.New(conversationId));
+            await context.QueueSystemUpdateAsync(SystemScope.Names.Conversation, conversation).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await context.QueueSystemUpdateAsync(SystemScope.Names.ConversationId, FormulaValue.New(conversationId)).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
-        StringValue workflowId = (StringValue)context.ReadState(SystemScope.Names.ConversationId, VariableScopeNames.System);
-        return workflowId.Value.Equals(conversationId, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        await context.AddEventAsync(new ConversationUpdateEvent(conversationId) { IsWorkflow = isExternal }).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    public static bool IsWorkflowConversation(
+        this IWorkflowContext context,
+        string? conversationId,
+        out string? workflowConversationId)
+    {
+        FormulaValue idValue = context.ReadState(SystemScope.Names.ConversationId, VariableScopeNames.System);
+        switch (idValue)
+        {
+            case BlankValue:
+            case ErrorValue:
+                workflowConversationId = null;
+                return false;
+            case StringValue stringValue when stringValue.Value.Length > 0:
+                workflowConversationId = stringValue.Value;
+                return workflowConversationId.Equals(conversationId, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+            default:
+                // Something has gone terribly wrong.
+                throw new DeclarativeActionException($"Invalid '{SystemScope.Names.ConversationId}' value type: {idValue.GetType().Name}.");
+        }
     }
 
     private static DeclarativeWorkflowContext DeclarativeContext(IWorkflowContext context)
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Interpreter/DeclarativeWorkflowExecutor.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Interpreter/DeclarativeWorkflowExecutor.cs
index db44f0701c..e30bb94a01 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Interpreter/DeclarativeWorkflowExecutor.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Interpreter/DeclarativeWorkflowExecutor.cs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ internal sealed class DeclarativeWorkflowExecutor<TInput>(
         {
             conversationId = await options.AgentProvider.CreateConversationAsync(cancellationToken: default).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
-        await declarativeContext.QueueConversationUpdateAsync(conversationId).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await declarativeContext.QueueConversationUpdateAsync(conversationId, isExternal: true).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         await options.AgentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(conversationId, input, cancellationToken: default).ConfigureAwait(false);
         await declarativeContext.SetLastMessageAsync(input).ConfigureAwait(false);
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Kit/RootExecutor.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Kit/RootExecutor.cs
index 4c622f8933..a1ebd09f5b 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Kit/RootExecutor.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/Kit/RootExecutor.cs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public abstract class RootExecutor<TInput> : Executor<TInput>, IResettableExecut
         {
             this._conversationId = await this._agentProvider.CreateConversationAsync(cancellationToken: default).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
-        await declarativeContext.QueueConversationUpdateAsync(this._conversationId).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await declarativeContext.QueueConversationUpdateAsync(this._conversationId, isExternal: true).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         await this._agentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(this._conversationId, input, cancellationToken: default).ConfigureAwait(false);
         await declarativeContext.SetLastMessageAsync(input).ConfigureAwait(false);
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/ObjectModel/AddConversationMessageExecutor.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/ObjectModel/AddConversationMessageExecutor.cs
index 68925e7f01..ef64625f6e 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/ObjectModel/AddConversationMessageExecutor.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/ObjectModel/AddConversationMessageExecutor.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ internal sealed class AddConversationMessageExecutor(AddConversationMessage mode
 
         ChatMessage newMessage = new(this.Model.Role.Value.ToChatRole(), [.. this.GetContent()]) { AdditionalProperties = this.GetMetadata() };
 
-        await agentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(conversationId, newMessage, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        // Capture the created message, which includes the assigned ID.
+        newMessage = await agentProvider.CreateMessageAsync(conversationId, newMessage, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         await this.AssignAsync(this.Model.Message?.Path, newMessage.ToRecord(), context).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/WorkflowAgentProvider.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/WorkflowAgentProvider.cs
index 3b1ffdf6e2..4245d828b2 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/WorkflowAgentProvider.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative/WorkflowAgentProvider.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public abstract class WorkflowAgentProvider
     /// <param name="conversationId">The identifier of the target conversation.</param>
     /// <param name="conversationMessage">The message being added.</param>
     /// <param name="cancellationToken">The <see cref="CancellationToken"/> to monitor for cancellation requests. The default is <see cref="CancellationToken.None"/>.</param>
-    public abstract Task CreateMessageAsync(string conversationId, ChatMessage conversationMessage, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
+    public abstract Task<ChatMessage> CreateMessageAsync(string conversationId, ChatMessage conversationMessage, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Retrieves a specific message from a conversation.
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeCodeGenTest.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeCodeGenTest.cs
index 00be44b405..1fd4440be8 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeCodeGenTest.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeCodeGenTest.cs
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ public sealed class DeclarativeCodeGenTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : WorkflowT
     [InlineData("SendActivity.yaml", "SendActivity.json")]
     [InlineData("InvokeAgent.yaml", "InvokeAgent.json")]
     [InlineData("InvokeAgent.yaml", "InvokeAgent.json", true)]
-    [InlineData("ConversationMessages.yaml", "ConversationMessages.json")]
-    [InlineData("ConversationMessages.yaml", "ConversationMessages.json", true)]
+    [InlineData("ConversationMessages.yaml", "ConversationMessages.json", Skip = "Issue #1236")]
+    [InlineData("ConversationMessages.yaml", "ConversationMessages.json", true, Skip = "Issue #1236")]
     public Task ValidateCaseAsync(string workflowFileName, string testcaseFileName, bool externalConveration = false) =>
         this.RunWorkflowAsync(Path.Combine(Environment.CurrentDirectory, "Workflows", workflowFileName), testcaseFileName, externalConveration);
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public sealed class DeclarativeCodeGenTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : WorkflowT
 
             Assert.Empty(workflowEvents.ActionInvokeEvents);
             Assert.Empty(workflowEvents.ActionCompleteEvents);
-            AssertWorkflow.Conversation(workflowOptions.ConversationId, testcase.Validation.ConversationCount, workflowEvents.ConversationEvents);
+            AssertWorkflow.Conversation(workflowOptions.ConversationId, workflowEvents.ConversationEvents, testcase);
             AssertWorkflow.EventCounts(workflowEvents.ExecutorInvokeEvents.Count - 2, testcase);
             AssertWorkflow.EventCounts(workflowEvents.ExecutorCompleteEvents.Count - 2, testcase);
             AssertWorkflow.EventSequence(workflowEvents.ExecutorInvokeEvents.Select(e => e.ExecutorId), testcase);
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
index ce8bfb303f..2937444c19 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ public sealed class DeclarativeWorkflowTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : Workflow
 
         Assert.NotEmpty(workflowEvents.ExecutorInvokeEvents);
         Assert.NotEmpty(workflowEvents.ExecutorCompleteEvents);
-        AssertWorkflow.Conversation(workflowOptions.ConversationId, testcase.Validation.ConversationCount, workflowEvents.ConversationEvents);
+        AssertWorkflow.Conversation(workflowOptions.ConversationId, workflowEvents.ConversationEvents, testcase);
+        AssertWorkflow.Responses(workflowEvents.AgentResponseEvents, testcase);
+        await AssertWorkflow.MessagesAsync(
+            GetConversationId(workflowOptions.ConversationId, workflowEvents.ConversationEvents),
+            testcase,
+            workflowOptions.AgentProvider);
         AssertWorkflow.EventCounts(workflowEvents.ActionInvokeEvents.Count, testcase);
         AssertWorkflow.EventCounts(workflowEvents.ActionCompleteEvents.Count, testcase, isCompletion: true);
         AssertWorkflow.EventSequence(workflowEvents.ActionInvokeEvents.Select(e => e.ActionId), testcase);
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/Testcase.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/Testcase.cs
index 7967d5f086..456199b7e6 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/Testcase.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/Testcase.cs
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests.Framework;
 public sealed class Testcase
 {
     [JsonConstructor]
-    public Testcase(
-        string description,
-        TestcaseSetup setup,
-        TestcaseValidation validation)
+    public Testcase(string description, TestcaseSetup setup, TestcaseValidation validation)
     {
         this.Description = description;
         this.Setup = setup;
@@ -28,13 +25,12 @@ public sealed class Testcase
 public sealed class TestcaseSetup
 {
     [JsonConstructor]
-    public TestcaseSetup(TestcaseInput input, IList<TestcaseInput>? responses = null)
+    public TestcaseSetup(TestcaseInput input)
     {
         this.Input = input;
-        this.Responses = responses ?? [];
     }
     public TestcaseInput Input { get; }
-    public IList<TestcaseInput>? Responses { get; }
+    public IList<TestcaseInput> Responses { get; init; } = [];
 }
 
 public sealed class TestcaseInput
@@ -53,36 +49,43 @@ public sealed class TestcaseInput
 public sealed class TestcaseValidation
 {
     [JsonConstructor]
-    public TestcaseValidation(int conversationCount, int minActionCount, int? maxActionCount = null, TestcaseValidationActions? actions = null)
+    public TestcaseValidation(int conversationCount, int minActionCount, int minResponseCount)
     {
         this.ConversationCount = conversationCount;
         this.MinActionCount = minActionCount;
-        this.MaxActionCount = maxActionCount;
-        this.Actions = actions ?? new TestcaseValidationActions([]);
+        this.MinResponseCount = minResponseCount;
     }
 
-    public TestcaseValidationActions Actions { get; }
+    public TestcaseValidationActions Actions { get; init; } = TestcaseValidationActions.Empty;
     public int ConversationCount { get; }
     public int MinActionCount { get; }
-    public int? MaxActionCount { get; }
+    // Default expectation is MinActionCount when not defined
+    public int? MaxActionCount { get; init; }
+    // Default expectation is MinResponseCount when not defined
+    public int? MinMessageCount { get; init; }
+    // Default expectation is MaxResponseCount when not defined
+    public int? MaxMessageCount { get; init; }
+    public int MinResponseCount { get; }
+    // Default expectation is MinResponseCount when not defined
+    public int? MaxResponseCount { get; init; }
 }
 
 public sealed class TestcaseValidationActions
 {
+    public static TestcaseValidationActions Empty { get; } = new([]);
+
     [JsonConstructor]
-    public TestcaseValidationActions(IList<string> start, IList<string>? repeat = null, IList<string>? final = null)
+    public TestcaseValidationActions(IList<string> start)
     {
         this.Start = start;
-        this.Repeat = repeat ?? [];
-        this.Final = final ?? [];
     }
 
     [JsonIgnore(Condition = JsonIgnoreCondition.WhenWritingDefault)]
     public IList<string> Start { get; }
 
     [JsonIgnore(Condition = JsonIgnoreCondition.WhenWritingDefault)]
-    public IList<string> Repeat { get; }
+    public IList<string> Repeat { get; init; } = [];
 
     [JsonIgnore(Condition = JsonIgnoreCondition.WhenWritingDefault)]
-    public IList<string> Final { get; }
+    public IList<string> Final { get; init; } = [];
 }
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowEvents.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowEvents.cs
index 210b10a951..a9f1789449 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowEvents.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowEvents.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ internal sealed class WorkflowEvents
         this.ExecutorInvokeEvents = workflowEvents.OfType<ExecutorInvokedEvent>().ToList();
         this.ExecutorCompleteEvents = workflowEvents.OfType<ExecutorCompletedEvent>().ToList();
         this.InputEvents = workflowEvents.OfType<RequestInfoEvent>().ToList();
+        this.AgentResponseEvents = workflowEvents.OfType<AgentRunResponseEvent>().ToList();
     }
 
     public IReadOnlyList<WorkflowEvent> Events { get; }
@@ -28,4 +29,5 @@ internal sealed class WorkflowEvents
     public IReadOnlyList<ExecutorInvokedEvent> ExecutorInvokeEvents { get; }
     public IReadOnlyList<ExecutorCompletedEvent> ExecutorCompleteEvents { get; }
     public IReadOnlyList<RequestInfoEvent> InputEvents { get; }
+    public IReadOnlyList<AgentRunResponseEvent> AgentResponseEvents { get; }
 }
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowHarness.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowHarness.cs
index 88596fd165..679e1299c8 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowHarness.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowHarness.cs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ internal sealed class WorkflowHarness(Workflow workflow, string runId)
     {
         Console.WriteLine("RUNNING WORKFLOW...");
         Checkpointed<StreamingRun> run = await InProcessExecution.StreamAsync(workflow, input, this._checkpointManager, runId);
-        IReadOnlyList<WorkflowEvent> workflowEvents = await this.MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(run).ToArrayAsync();
+        IReadOnlyList<WorkflowEvent> workflowEvents = await MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(run).ToArrayAsync();
         this.LastCheckpoint = workflowEvents.OfType<SuperStepCompletedEvent>().LastOrDefault()?.CompletionInfo?.Checkpoint;
         return new WorkflowEvents(workflowEvents);
     }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ internal sealed class WorkflowHarness(Workflow workflow, string runId)
         Console.WriteLine("RESUMING WORKFLOW...");
         Assert.NotNull(this.LastCheckpoint);
         Checkpointed<StreamingRun> run = await InProcessExecution.ResumeStreamAsync(workflow, this.LastCheckpoint, this._checkpointManager, runId);
-        IReadOnlyList<WorkflowEvent> workflowEvents = await this.MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(run, response).ToArrayAsync();
+        IReadOnlyList<WorkflowEvent> workflowEvents = await MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(run, response).ToArrayAsync();
         return new WorkflowEvents(workflowEvents);
     }
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ internal sealed class WorkflowHarness(Workflow workflow, string runId)
         return new WorkflowHarness(workflow, runId);
     }
 
-    private async IAsyncEnumerable<WorkflowEvent> MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(Checkpointed<StreamingRun> run, InputResponse? response = null)
+    private static async IAsyncEnumerable<WorkflowEvent> MonitorWorkflowRunAsync(Checkpointed<StreamingRun> run, InputResponse? response = null)
     {
         await foreach (WorkflowEvent workflowEvent in run.Run.WatchStreamAsync().ConfigureAwait(false))
         {
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowTest.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowTest.cs
index 0879bf583d..a3ad1a5983 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowTest.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Framework/WorkflowTest.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Frozen;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
 using System.Text.Json;
 using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
@@ -85,6 +86,21 @@ public abstract class WorkflowTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : IntegrationTest(o
         await this.RunAndVerifyAsync<TInput>(testcase, workflowPath, workflowOptions);
     }
 
+    protected static string? GetConversationId(string? conversationId, IReadOnlyList<ConversationUpdateEvent> conversationEvents)
+    {
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(conversationId))
+        {
+            return conversationId;
+        }
+
+        if (conversationEvents.Count > 0)
+        {
+            return conversationEvents.SingleOrDefault(conversationEvent => conversationEvent.IsWorkflow)?.ConversationId;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     protected static object GetInput<TInput>(Testcase testcase) where TInput : notnull =>
         testcase.Setup.Input.Type switch
         {
@@ -120,23 +136,56 @@ public abstract class WorkflowTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : IntegrationTest(o
 
     protected static class AssertWorkflow
     {
-        public static void Conversation(string? conversationId, int expectedCount, IReadOnlyList<ConversationUpdateEvent> conversationEvents)
+        public static void Conversation(string? conversationId, IReadOnlyList<ConversationUpdateEvent> conversationEvents, Testcase testcase)
         {
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(conversationId))
             {
-                Assert.Equal(expectedCount, conversationEvents.Count);
+                Assert.Equal(testcase.Validation.ConversationCount, conversationEvents.Count);
             }
             else
             {
-                Assert.Equal(expectedCount - 1, conversationEvents.Count);
+                Assert.Equal(testcase.Validation.ConversationCount - 1, conversationEvents.Count);
             }
         }
 
         // "isCompletion" adjusts validation logic to account for when condition completion is not experienced due to goto.  Remove this test logic once addressed.
         public static void EventCounts(int actualCount, Testcase testcase, bool isCompletion = false)
         {
-            Assert.True(actualCount + (isCompletion ? 1 : 0) >= testcase.Validation.MinActionCount, $"Event count less than expected: {testcase.Validation.MinActionCount} ({actualCount}).");
-            Assert.True(actualCount <= (testcase.Validation.MaxActionCount ?? testcase.Validation.MinActionCount), $"Event count greater than expected: {testcase.Validation.MaxActionCount ?? testcase.Validation.MinActionCount} ({actualCount}).");
+            Assert.True(actualCount + (isCompletion ? 1 : 0) >= testcase.Validation.MinActionCount, $"Event count less than expected: {testcase.Validation.MinActionCount} (Actual: {actualCount}).");
+            if (testcase.Validation.MaxActionCount != -1)
+            {
+                int maxExpectedCount = testcase.Validation.MaxActionCount ?? testcase.Validation.MinActionCount;
+                Assert.True(actualCount <= maxExpectedCount, $"Event count greater than expected: {maxExpectedCount} (Actual: {actualCount}).");
+            }
+        }
+
+        public static void Responses(IReadOnlyList<AgentRunResponseEvent> responseEvents, Testcase testcase)
+        {
+            Assert.True(responseEvents.Count >= testcase.Validation.MinResponseCount, $"Response count less than expected: {testcase.Validation.MinResponseCount} (Actual: {responseEvents.Count})");
+            if (testcase.Validation.MaxResponseCount != -1)
+            {
+                int maxExpectedCount = testcase.Validation.MaxResponseCount ?? testcase.Validation.MinResponseCount;
+                Assert.True(responseEvents.Count <= maxExpectedCount, $"Response count greater than expected: {maxExpectedCount} (Actual: {responseEvents.Count}).");
+            }
+        }
+
+        public static async ValueTask MessagesAsync(string? conversationId, Testcase testcase, WorkflowAgentProvider agentProvider)
+        {
+            int minExpectedCount = testcase.Validation.MinMessageCount ?? testcase.Validation.MinResponseCount;
+            int maxExpectedCount = testcase.Validation.MaxMessageCount ?? testcase.Validation.MaxResponseCount ?? minExpectedCount;
+            int messageCount = 0;
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(conversationId))
+            {
+                messageCount = await agentProvider.GetMessagesAsync(conversationId).CountAsync();
+            }
+
+            ++minExpectedCount;
+            Assert.True(messageCount >= minExpectedCount, $"Workflow message count less than expected: {minExpectedCount} (Actual: {messageCount}).");
+            if (maxExpectedCount != -1)
+            {
+                ++maxExpectedCount;
+                Assert.True(messageCount <= maxExpectedCount, $"Workflow message count greater than expected: {maxExpectedCount} (Actual: {messageCount}).");
+            }
         }
 
         internal static void EventSequence(IEnumerable<string> sourceIds, Testcase testcase)
@@ -148,7 +197,7 @@ public abstract class WorkflowTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : IntegrationTest(o
             bool validateRepeat = false;
             foreach (string sourceId in sourceIds)
             {
-                if (!validateStart)
+                if (!validateStart && testcase.Validation.Actions.Start.Count > 0)
                 {
                     if (testcase.Validation.Actions.Start.Count > 0 &&
                         startIds.Count == 0 &&
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/ConversationMessages.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/ConversationMessages.json
index b110188740..86615bbd5e 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/ConversationMessages.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/ConversationMessages.json
@@ -7,16 +7,19 @@
     }
   },
   "validation": {
-    "conversation_count": 3,
-    "min_action_count": 7,
+    "conversation_count": 2,
+    "min_action_count": 8,
+    "min_message_count": 1,
+    "min_response_count": 0,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
         "conversation_create1",
-        "conversation_create2",
         "sendActivity_conversation",
         "add_message",
+        "get_message_single",
         "sendActivity_message",
         "copy_messages",
+        "get_messages_all",
         "sendActivity_copy"
       ],
       "final": [
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/DeepResearch.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/DeepResearch.json
index 72b602a851..83e1588f32 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/DeepResearch.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/DeepResearch.json
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
   "validation": {
     "conversation_count": 2,
     "min_action_count": 25,
-    "max_action_count": 56,
+    "max_action_count": -1,
+    "min_response_count": 1,
+    "max_response_count": -1,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
         "setVariable_aASlmF",
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/HumanInLoop.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/HumanInLoop.json
index 1092381cbd..e0091813a6 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/HumanInLoop.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/HumanInLoop.json
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
   "validation": {
     "conversation_count": 1,
     "min_action_count": 8,
+    "min_response_count": 0,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
         "set_project"
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/InvokeAgent.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/InvokeAgent.json
index 0be58aecc7..7a28a5b094 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/InvokeAgent.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/InvokeAgent.json
@@ -7,14 +7,17 @@
     }
   },
   "validation": {
-    "conversation_count": 2,
-    "min_action_count": 1,
+    "conversation_count": 3,
+    "min_action_count": 3,
+    "min_response_count": 2,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
-        "invoke_agent"
+        "invoke_inner1",
+        "invoke_inner2",
+        "invoke_external"
       ],
       "final": [
-        "invoke_agent"
+        "invoke_external"
       ]
     }
   }
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/Marketing.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/Marketing.json
index 96b459d293..68c40219d0 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/Marketing.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/Marketing.json
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@
   },
   "validation": {
     "conversation_count": 1,
-    "min_action_count": 4,
+    "min_action_count": 3,
+    "min_response_count": 3,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
-        "add_input_message",
         "invoke_analyst",
         "invoke_writer",
         "invoke_editor"
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/MathChat.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/MathChat.json
index 0ad0465396..988732a7a8 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/MathChat.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/MathChat.json
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@
   "validation": {
     "conversation_count": 1,
     "min_action_count": 6,
-    "max_action_count": 56,
+    "max_action_count": -1,
+    "min_response_count": 2,
+    "max_response_count": 8,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
-        "set_project"
       ],
       "repeat": [
         "question_student",
-        "reset_project",
         "question_teacher",
         "set_count_increment",
         "check_completion"
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/SendActivity.json b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/SendActivity.json
index 7a896be4ec..0ed4d33deb 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/SendActivity.json
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Testcases/SendActivity.json
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
     }
   },
   "validation": {
-    "conversation_count":  1,
+    "conversation_count": 1,
     "min_action_count": 3,
+    "min_response_count": 0,
     "actions": {
       "start": [
         "set_user_input",
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/ConversationMessages.yaml b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/ConversationMessages.yaml
index 06238aa3a2..deb00694c8 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/ConversationMessages.yaml
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/ConversationMessages.yaml
@@ -7,36 +7,43 @@ trigger:
 
     - kind: CreateConversation
       id: conversation_create1
-      conversationId: Local.FirstConversationId
-
-    - kind: CreateConversation
-      id: conversation_create2
-      conversationId: Local.SecondConversationId
+      conversationId: Local.PrivateConversationId
 
     - kind: SendActivity
       id: sendActivity_conversation
       activity: |-
-        Conversation 1: {Local.FirstConversationId}
-        Conversation 2: {Local.SecondConversationId}
+        Conversation 1: {Local.PrivateConversationId}
+        Conversation 2: {System.ConversationId}
 
     - kind: AddConversationMessage
       id: add_message
       message: Local.MyMessage1
       role: User
-      conversationId: =Local.FirstConversationId
+      conversationId: =Local.PrivateConversationId
       content:
         - type: Text
           value: {System.LastMessage.Text}
 
+    - kind: RetrieveConversationMessage
+      id: get_message_single
+      message: Local.MyMessage1Copy
+      conversationId: =Local.PrivateConversationId
+      messageId: =Local.MyMessage1.Id
+
     - kind: SendActivity
       id: sendActivity_message
       activity: |-
-        Messsage 1: {Local.MyMessage1}
+        Message 1: {Local.MyMessage1}
 
     - kind: CopyConversationMessages
       id: copy_messages
-      conversationId: =Local.SecondConversationId
+      conversationId: =System.ConversationId
       messages: =[Local.MyMessage1]
+  
+    - kind: RetrieveConversationMessages
+      id: get_messages_all
+      messages: Local.AllMessages
+      conversationId: =System.ConversationId
 
     - kind: SendActivity
       id: sendActivity_copy
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessage.yaml b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessage.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5cee7dc72c..0000000000
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessage.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-kind: Workflow
-trigger:
-
-  kind: OnConversationStart
-  id: workflow_test
-  actions:
-
-    - kind: RetrieveConversationMessage
-      id: get_message
-      message: Local.MyMessage
-      conversationId: thread_T8xIzNrNcPkUkoCEGzxg80Vt
-      messageId: msg_J4x6YZTDUUWNs60FOUAucldy
-
-    - kind: SendActivity
-      id: sendActivity_message
-      activity: |-
-        {Local.MyMessage}
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessages.yaml b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessages.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index f47fbb76d5..0000000000
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/GetMessages.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-kind: Workflow
-trigger:
-
-  kind: OnConversationStart
-  id: workflow_test
-  actions:
-  
-    - kind: RetrieveConversationMessages
-      id: get_message
-      messages: Local.MyMessages
-      conversationId: thread_T8xIzNrNcPkUkoCEGzxg80Vt
-
-    - kind: SendActivity
-      id: sendActivity_message
-      activity: |-
-        {Local.MyMessages}
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/InvokeAgent.yaml b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/InvokeAgent.yaml
index 27f195ee36..159637402f 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/InvokeAgent.yaml
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.IntegrationTests/Workflows/InvokeAgent.yaml
@@ -6,11 +6,29 @@ trigger:
   actions:
 
     - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
-      id: invoke_agent
+      id: invoke_inner1
       agent:
         name: =Env.FOUNDRY_AGENT_TEST
       input:
-        messages: =[UserMessage(System.LastMessageText)]
+        messages: =UserMessage("Can an LLM think of funny jokes?")
       output:
         autoSend: false
-        messages: Local.Answer
+
+    - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
+      id: invoke_inner2
+      agent:
+        name: =Env.FOUNDRY_AGENT_TEST
+      input:
+        messages: =UserMessage("Do you know the joke about the chicken crossing the road? Tell me an improved version of that joke.")
+
+    - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
+      id: invoke_external
+      conversationId: =System.ConversationId
+      agent:
+        name: =Env.FOUNDRY_AGENT_TEST
+      input:
+        additionalInstructions: |-
+          Rate the originality of this well known joke that is being re-told on a scale of 1 to 10.
+          Take note on where improvements or changes were made.
+      output:
+        messages: Local.RatingResponse
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.UnitTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.UnitTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
index 3126eb6bc1..fb7c77f59d 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.UnitTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows.Declarative.UnitTests/DeclarativeWorkflowTest.cs
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ public sealed class DeclarativeWorkflowTest(ITestOutputHelper output) : Workflow
     {
         Mock<WorkflowAgentProvider> mockAgentProvider = new(MockBehavior.Strict);
         mockAgentProvider.Setup(provider => provider.CreateConversationAsync(It.IsAny<CancellationToken>())).Returns(() => Task.FromResult(Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N")));
-        mockAgentProvider.Setup(provider => provider.CreateMessageAsync(It.IsAny<string>(), It.IsAny<ChatMessage>(), It.IsAny<CancellationToken>())).Returns(Task.CompletedTask);
+        mockAgentProvider.Setup(provider => provider.CreateMessageAsync(It.IsAny<string>(), It.IsAny<ChatMessage>(), It.IsAny<CancellationToken>())).Returns(Task.FromResult(new ChatMessage(ChatRole.Assistant, "Hi!")));
         return mockAgentProvider;
     }
 }
diff --git a/workflow-samples/Marketing.yaml b/workflow-samples/Marketing.yaml
index 248508825d..2bdd9f3c4a 100644
--- a/workflow-samples/Marketing.yaml
+++ b/workflow-samples/Marketing.yaml
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@ trigger:
   id: workflow_demo
   actions:
 
-    - kind: AddConversationMessage
-      id: add_input_message
-      conversationId: =System.ConversationId
-      content:
-        - type: Text
-          value: {System.LastMessage.Text}
-
     - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
       id: invoke_analyst
       conversationId: =System.ConversationId
diff --git a/workflow-samples/MathChat.yaml b/workflow-samples/MathChat.yaml
index c6ac4d2ca9..b3673e9baa 100644
--- a/workflow-samples/MathChat.yaml
+++ b/workflow-samples/MathChat.yaml
@@ -31,22 +31,11 @@ trigger:
   id: workflow_demo
   actions:
 
-    - kind: SetVariable
-      id: set_project
-      variable: Local.InputTask
-      value: =UserMessage(System.LastMessageText)
-
     - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
       id: question_student
       conversationId: =System.ConversationId
       agent:
         name: =Env.FOUNDRY_AGENT_STUDENT
-      input:
-        messages: =Local.InputTask
-
-    - kind: ResetVariable
-      id: reset_project
-      variable: Local.InputTask
 
     - kind: InvokeAzureAgent
       id: question_teacher