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

      2020 Award Recipients

      View the 2020 Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Presentation

      • Alisha Hawthorne, Behavioral Health Professional Award
      • Rita Blazaitis, CASA Volunteer Award
      • Tyler Benting, Contract Attorney Award
      • Peggy Adegoke, Substitute Care Review Board Member Award
      • Gayle Lane, CYFD Foster Parent Award
      • Janna Lopez, CYFD Juvenile Justice Staff Award
      • Jasmyn Marquez, CYFD Protective Services Staff Award
      • Beth Gillia, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Excellence Award
      • Yasmine Haque, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Excellence Award
      • Monica Ly, Parent Award
      • Alma Roberson, Public Defender in Delinquency Award
      • Jennifer DeLaney, State Judge Award
      • Alyssa Davis, Foster Youth Alumnus Award
      • Rosa Barraza, Service Provider Award
      • Daniel Dougherty, Children’s Court Attorney in Child Welfare 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