Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Past Winners
Past Award Winners
2022 Award Recipients
View the 2022 Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Presentation
- Roxanne Urquidez, Behavoiral Health Worker Award
- Heather Hoechst, GAL/Youth/Respondent Attorney Award
- Dennica Torres, GA/Youth/Respondent Attorney Award
- Gloria Burkhart, CASA Volunteer Award
- Carmela Romero, CYFD or Tribal Social Services Leader Award
- Jamey Gallegos, CYFD Protective Services Worker Award
- Maria Maes-McChriston, Juvenile Justice Worker Award
- Shannon Eckert, Non-Profit Service Provider Award
- Catherine Pavelski, Parent/Guardian with Lived Experience Award
- Dawn Kadera, Resource Parent Award
- Tim & Tamra Gray, Resource Parent Award
- Chuck Hemphill, SCA Volunteer Award
- Roy Criddle, Youth with Lived Experience Award
- Mariana Grajeda, Youth with Lived Experience Award
- Renee Ornelas, Change Agent Award
2021 Award Recipients
View the 2021 Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Presentation
- Bryce Pittenger, Behavioral Health ProfessionalAward
- Becky Schritter, CASA Volunteer Award
- Kelly O’Neill, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare Award
- David Brainer, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare Award
- Julie Montano, CYFD Foster Parent Award
- Jamie Martinez, CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff Award
- Miquela Otero, CYFD Support Staff Award
- Sonia Ramirez-Tapia, CYFD Protective Services Staff Award
- Selena Moreno, Foster Youth Alumnus Award
- Elijah Davis, Foster Youth Alumnus Award
- Alexis Delacruz, GAL//Youth/Respondent Attorney Award
- Bruce Battle, Non-Profit Service Provider Award
- Emilio Chavez, State or Tribal Judge Award
- Queva Hubbard, Parent Award
- Kasandra Gandara, Public Servant Award
2019 Award Recipients
- Elizabeth Hamilton, Behavioral Health Staff
- Barbara Tegtmeier, CASA Volunteer
- John Duran, Contract Attorney
- Maria Ortiz, CRB Member
- Emet and Melonie Chavez, CYFD Foster Parent
- Don Shapiro, CYFD Juvenile Justice
- Patti Vowell, CYFD Juvenile Justice
- Megan Gonzales, CYFD Protective Services
- Susannah Burke, OTHER
- Ezra Spitzer, OTHER
- Shantell Gallegos, Parent
- Anna Gabrielidis, Public Defender in Delinquency
- Sarah Backus, State Judge
- Rena Chavarria, Tribal Foster Parent
- Cheryl Fairbanks, Tribal Judge
- Jacqueline Yalch, Tribal Social Services
- Micaela Baca, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Aaron Boswell, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Christianna Wilson, Foster Youth Alumnus
- DAngelo Montoya, Juvenile Justice Alumnus
2018 Award Recipients
- Mary Ann Shaening, Lifetime Achievement
- Debra Balthasar, CASA Volunteer
- Deborah Gray, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare
- Robert Retherford, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare
- Liz McGrath, Contract Attorney
- Yvonne Lucero, CYFD Protective Services Staff
- Arthur Malone, CYFD Protective Services Staff
- Amy Ward, Foster Parent
- Cristen Conley, Advocate
- Grace Spulak, Advocate
- David Richter, Public Defender
- Barbara Vigil, State or Tribal Judge
- Veronica Alvillar, Tribal or CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff
- Julie Raborn, Tribal or CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff
- Andrew Salazar, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Sarah Schrock, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Jesus Schink, Juvenile Justice Alumnus
- Allan Trosclair, Substitute Care Review Board Member
2017 Award Recipients
- Dr. Charles Searcy, CASA Volunteer
- Michelle Pickett, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare
- Jennifer Olson, Contract Attorney
- Darren Cordova, Contract Attorney
- Judge Matthew J Sandoval, Judge
- Jack Carpenter, CRB Member
- Melissa Mendoza, CYFD Protective Service Staff
- Martha Fernandez, CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff
- Rochelle Alvarado, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Pam Michaels, Foster Parent
- Karan Northfield, Foster Parent
- Jennifer Parkins, CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff
- Ann Edenfield Sweet, Service Organization
- Anne Ryan, Service Organization
- Stephen Taylor, Public Defender in Delinquency
2016 Award Recipients
- Bianca Padilla, CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff
- Cathy Bryant, CASA Volunteer
- Deborah Yost, CYFD Protective Services Staff
- Karen Townsend, Judge
- Lindsey Lucero, 2nd Judicial Drug Court
- Mary Carr, CRB Member
- Sheyenne Myrtle, Foster Youth Alumnus
- Michael Sousa, Public Defender in Delinquency
- Leslie Jones, Contract Attorney
- Donalyn Sarracina, Tribal Social Services Staff
- Carol and Nathan Gingerich, Foster Parents
2015 Award Recipients
- Mark Dickson, Public Defender (Delinquency)
- Freddie Romero, Judge
- Marissa Vigil, Foster Youth Alumni
- Cristian Valverde, Juvenile Justice Alumni
- Valerie Arculeta, Parent
- Mickey Curtis, Provider
- Rebecca Liggett, Children’s Court Attorney
- Catherine Romero, Protective Services Worker
- Marcia Haney and Teri Roper, CASA Volunteer
- Venita Gallegos, Juvenile Justice Worker
- Robert Retherford, Contract Attorney
- Jaylynn and Terry Vandruff, Foster Parents
- Martha Reiersen, CRB Member
2014 Award Recipients
- Connie Smith, CYFD Protective Services Worker
- Therese Yanan, Court Appointed Child Welfare Attorney
- Lynne Jessen, CYFD Children’s Court Attorney
- Christopher Betsch, CYFD Juvenile Justice Worker
- Nathan Driver, CYFD Juvenile Justice Worker
- Judge John F Davis, Children’s Court Judge
- Carolyn Martin, CASA Volunteer
- Mary Ann Copas, CRB Member
- Joel and Kim Weber, Foster Parents
- Skylar Ford, Foster Youth Alumni
- Greg Crutcher, Foster Youth Mentor
- James Sumrow, Leader and Mentor for Parents in Child Welfare
2013 Award Recipients
- Branden Murray, CYFD Protective Services Worker
- Johnna Studebaker, Court Appointed Child Welfare Attorney
- Jon Hendra, CYFD Children’s Court Attorney
- Richard Lindahl, CYFD Juvenile Justice Worker
- Jason Rael, CYFD Children’s Court Attorney in Delinquency Matters
- Louis P McDonald, Children’s Court Judge
- Amy O’Neill, CASA Volunteer
- Anne Nokes, CRB Member
- Annette Chavez and Teodoso Lucero, Foster Parents
- Krystal Goolsby, Foster Youth Alumni
Founders Award given in 2013 on the 20th anniversary to the founders of the Children’s Law Institute
- Honorable Michael Martinez
- Honorable Alvin Jones
- Paul Biderman, JD
- Angela Adams, JD
2012 Award Recipients
- Carrie-Leigh Cloutier, CASA Volunteer
- Jennifer Munson, Contract Attorney
- Bonnie Geer, CRB Member
- David Brainerd, CYFD Children’s Court Attorney
- Jill May, CYFD Worker
- John J Romero, Children’s Court Judge