Conference
& Training

NACAC Awards

To honor special individuals, groups, and organizations who have devoted their time to promoting adoption and improving child welfare, NACAC holds an annual awards ceremony at each year's conference. This year’s winners have spent many years providing invaluable services and support to children and families, and we look forward to publicly acknowledging their dedication and commitment.

NACAC congratulates these 2011 award recipients:

We encourage you to consider to nominate worthy members of the foster care or adoption community (including yourself or your parent group/ organization) for the 2012 awards. Download a nomation form here.

2011 Award Winners

Child Advocate of the Year

U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D), Nebraska

Friend of Children

Judge Karen Ashby, Denver Juvenile Court, Colorado

Parent Group of the Year

Iowa Foster Adoptive Parents Association

Corporate Award for Special Achievement in Adoption

Human Rights Campaign, All Children—All Families Program, District of Columbia

Youth Advocate of the Year

La Terra Cole, former foster youth, Colorado

Adoption Activists

• André Fontaine, Ottawa Children's Aid Society, Ontario
• Sharen Ford, Colorado Department of Human Services
• Amy Heilman, Children's Bureau of Southern California
• Betsy Keefer Smalley, ?Institute for Human Services, Ohio & Jayne Schooler, International & Development Center of Ukraine/Institute for Human Services, Ohio
• Senator Moe Keller, Colorado State Senate (ret.)/Mental Health America of Colorado