Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Past Winners

About New Mexico Children’s Law Institute
Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards
Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Past Winners

Past Award Winners

2026 Award Recipients

Attorney Award- Sarah Crecca
Behavioral Health Worker Award- “Kika” Frankie Lee Trujillo
Protective Services Worker Award- Ayanna Lorenzo
Protective Services Worker Award- Yolanda Castro
Juvenile Justice Worker Award- Bianca Padilla
Leader at CYFD Award- Isaac Casas
CASA Volunteer Award- Martia Glass
Non-Profit Service Provider Award- Megan Cederberg
Tribal Service Worker Award- Didra Humetewa
Youth with Lived Expertise Award- Heaven Valdez
Youth with Lived Expertise Award- Patrick Schaub
Parent with Lived Expertise Award- Alyssa Davis
Resource Parent Award- Helen Ulibarri
Resource Parent Award- Georgene Baca-Kirtley
Program Support Award- Chelsea Zubia
LGBTQ+ Ally in Behavioral health Award- Carol Montoya
Advocate Award- Maricella Frias-Guerra
Lifetime Achievement Award- Beth Gillia

2025 Award Recipients

Learn More About the Winners

Attorney	Laura Castillo
Behavioral Health Worker	Paige Medina
Protective Services Worker	Naomi Ardis	Jenifer Nieto
Juvenile Justice Worker	Dylan Orosco	Manuel Hernandez
Leader at CYFD	Corey Adams	Christina Nuanes
SCAC Member	Maria Ortiz Bustos
CASA Volunteer	Susan Zellhoefer
Non-Profit Service Provider	Michele Harwood	Jesse Clifton
Tribal Services Worker	Marsha Vallo
Youth with Lived Experience	Shelby McDaniel	Dina Flores
Resource Parent	Mike & Erin Gomez	Karen Snyder
Other - Outstanding Service	Alison Pauk
Other - Care Coordinator	Crystal Gonzales
Other - Outstanding Team Players	Camica Ramirez & Carol Montoya
Other - Peer Advocates	Kenneth Harvey	John Tsabetsay

2024 Award Recipients

Learn More About the Winners

Roberta Garcia Juvenile Justice Services Worker Award
Kevin McBride Attorney Award
Jacqueline Trujillo Behavioral Health Worker Award
Kathy Eveland CASA Volunteer Award
Jasmine Pena Young Adult with Lived Experience Award
Veronica Krupnik Hope in Action Award
Joanna Rubi Resource Parent Award
Annette & Steve Jaramillo Resource Parent Award
Jackie Medina Resource Parent Award
Shelly Bucher Substitute Care Advisory Council Member Award
Wyndsor Yazzie CYFD Protective Services Worker Award
Corrine Begody Non-Profit Service Provider Award
Lisa Rohleder Leader with Children Youth and Families Department Award
Virginia Tenorio Tribal Services Worker Award
Stephanie Brown Youth Advocate Award

2023 Award Recipients

View the 2023 Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Excellence Awards Presentation

Amy O'Neill, CASA Volunteer
Donalyn Sarracino, CYFD or Tribal Social Services Leader
Geneva Rivera, CYFD Protective Services Worker
Brooke Stanley-Tou, Non-Profit Service Provider
Rusti and Tayden McConnell, Resource Parent
Kate Bunch, Behavioral Health Worker
Ray Floersheim, Attorney
Bradford Dalley, State or Tribal Judge or Hearing Officer
Julie Bird, Tribal Services Worker
Alma Roberson, Public Defender in Delinquency
Melissa Beery, Parent/Guardian with Lived Experience
Trinity Litche, Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience
Reed Ridens, Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience
Jolene Martinez, Systems Innovator

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