2024 Sarah Duncan Award Nominees Announced
In celebration of National Social Work Month, the Northern Academy is proud to announce the nominees for the 2024 Sarah Duncan Champion for Children and Families Award!
For those who submitted a nomination, thank you so much for taking the time to recognize one of your valued colleagues.
If you didn’t get a chance to nominate this year, don’t worry: We are already taking submissions for next year’s award.
And the nominees are…
Virma Castillo, Glenn County: Virma began in the Ongoing Unit in 2015 and moved to Emergency Response before settling into the Prevention Unit in 2021. In each unit she has been a part of, she has brought peace to her families, with her calm and quiet presence. Her nominating colleague writes, “There are so many families who have improved their circumstances with Virma’s assistance. Our partners reach out to her specifically, as they know she will go above and beyond for the families in our community. She thinks outside of the box, and when something piques her interest, she will research it until she is nothing short of an expert.”
Nidia Espinoza, Yuba County: Nidia’s passion for helping families navigate necessary resources to stay together is highly admired by her peers. As a bilingual Spanish social worker, she is excellent at engaging with her Spanish-speaking clients and in helping them explore all options to find the appropriate services within their small rural community. A strong advocate for both her clients and her colleagues, her nominating colleagued noted how she is able to bring her peers together to support one another and to find joy in a profession that can sometimes be filled with traumatizing experiences.
Candice Freeman, Sutter County: Candice’s ability to stay the course and adapt to challenges–regardless of the barriers–is a testament to her devotion to every family that she works with. Her nominating colleague observes that, “She practices patience and care in building a good rapport with her clients and is responsive and diligent in her efforts to provide quality service, treating the families and individuals she serves equally, and with dignity and respect.”
Josephine (Jo) Pourian, Humboldt County: Jo is recognized by her colleagues for fighting tirelessly for those in her care to ensure that they have the best possible outcome after working through the child welfare system. Her nominating colleague notes how she, “connects with her clients, care providers, coworkers and community partners to ensure everyone is advocating for what is best for the families and children, and compassionately navigates difficult decisions and challenging barriers.”
Renee Prisser, Sacramento County: Renee has been a social worker for more than 25 years. Her nominating colleague notes how she consistently demonstrates strong social work practice while working with families, coordinating with community partners and supporting the well-being of her peers. “Renee fully engages her families and works together with them to achieve safety and promote well-being. She utilizes resources in the community anytime she can. If she does not have those resources, she always reaches out to find the appropriate resources for her families. Renee truly does this work because she cares for children and families, and it shows in her day-to-day work ethic.”
Heather Knight, Butte County: Heather Knight’s colleagues note that she has a “superpower” for matching older youth for adoption and for helping them exit the system. Her nominating colleague adds, “In our office, we refer to her as our office unicorn because she is one of a kind. She is a model of social ethics, compassion and patience with everyone. Her unconditional, positive regard and non-judgmental nature for children, families and peers make her a joy to work with. Youth look forward to her visits and staff look forward to collaborating with her across departments.”
Aubrey Love, Tuolumne County: Aubrey’s peers have observed and admired her tremendous value on honesty and transparency with families, co-workers and her supervisor. Her nominating colleague stated, “Aubrey has a stellar working relationship with the families she supports. She is quick to respond, problem-solve, advocate and track down resources and supports to ensure families have the opportunity to learn, grow, engage and strengthen their protective capacities. [She] has consistently shown the ability to treat all individuals and families with respect regardless of background or beliefs, and is able to recognize and discuss when potential biases may arise.”
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Melissa Morin, Mendocino County: Melissa is an amazing advocate for youth and families. Her nominating colleague notes how she easily forms positive relationships with all facets of her caseload, “but really has a special gift for our complex youth, [drawing] from her skillset in Wraparound Programs to understand the life changing needs and services that have positive outcomes for her youth.”
Dori Mueller, Modoc County: Dori currently covers intake, investigation, voluntary cases, court ordered maintenance cases, court ordered reunification cases, permanency placement cases and non-minor dependents. Her nominating colleague writes, “Dori has a soft demeanor and can work with the most tenacious teenagers. She provides a genuineness and empathetic attitude which builds trust with children, parents, caregivers and community partners.”
Kristin Sauer, Humboldt County: A veteran emergency response social worker who handles a large and highly challenging caseload for Humboldt County, Kristin is commended by her peers for her ability to assess information quickly and navigate difficult situations with tact and professionalism. Her nominating colleague writes that her, “diligence and sense of duty is a credit to the Humboldt County CWS, and she is a shining example of how social work in the emergency response area can and should be done at the highest level.”
Joseph Thompson, Sacramento County: Joseph is frequently recognized by both internal and external partners for his incredible personality and dedication to the children/youth he works with. His nominating colleague notes, “He does not shy away from challenges, and meets our families where they are, helping them to make the needed changes for the safety and permanency of their children. Joseph also shares his knowledge and experience with colleagues, often assisting them in times of crisis or need.”
April Williams, Yuba County: April has a strong ability to understand conflict management and resolve conflicts and disagreements constructively. In working with co-workers and her supervisors, she develops new insights into situations, questions conventional approaches and encourages new ideas and innovations. Her nominating colleague writes, “April acts as a role model for our staff and is usually the lead in any team-building activities. When new ideas or concepts are introduced to our social worker staff and management team, April can be counted on to effectively communicate the vision to our team, and her persuasiveness is impactful. [She] will be the first to articulate barriers to new ideas and concepts if those ideas are not in the best interest of the children we serve.”
Laveenya Young, Sacramento County: Having worked in some of the most challenging cases under some of the most challenging circumstances, Laveenya’s peers look up to her for her resiliency and leadership. She has been a constant support in her unit and has established herself as a leader among her peers. Her nominating colleague writes that, “Ms. Young has the respect of her community partners, shareholders and service provider as a worker who is reliable and dedicated to the practice of social work.”
And the winner is...
...going to be announced soon! Stay tuned to our social media pages (Facebook | LinkedIn) and our News Blog, where we’ll announce and feature the 2024 Sarah Duncan Champion for Children and Families Award winner.
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