Family Champion Awards
Nominations are extended! Submit your nomination before Monday, April 3, 12:00 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
At the heart of every strong family is the glue that binds individuals together in commitment and care for one another. For many families, the glue is reinforced by social workers who work to strengthen families, build families, and advocate for families. The Family Champion Awards recognize social workers across North Carolina that go the extra mile for families. Each awardee will receive recognition and celebration at the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (CHSNC) reTHINK Permanency: Unlocking Pathways from Foster Care to Family Conference on June 15, 2023—during the Family Champion Awards presented by the Institute for Family— including a $150 cash prize. The Family Champion Awards is sponsored and organized by the Institute for Family at CHSNC and underwritten by HealthyBlue.
NOMINATION CRITERIA
A nominee for the Family Champion Award will…
- Have a bachelor’s degree or above.
- Be employed in a role serving families and children in the capacity of a social worker or case manager at a county DSS, private child welfare placing agency, or community-based organization.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to families by promoting family strengthening, family preservation, kinship care, reunification, or permanency.
- Be recognized as a role model who inspires other social workers to prioritize family.
- Be available on the day of the event to travel to the conference, or participate remotely, to accept the award.
NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Nominations are due by March 31, 2023. Family Champion Award winners will be announced at the reTHINK Permanency: Unlocking Pathways from Foster Care to Family Conference, hosted by CHSNC, on June 15, 2023.
To nominate an individual, please complete and submit the nomination form below summarizing the work by the nominee that demonstrates their commitment to families and how/who the nominee has inspired. Upload one recommendation letter written with good knowledge of the work and inspirational influence of the nominee. Résumés, biographies, and recommendation letters are optional.
The selection committee will be formed in April 2023 with members from the Institute for Family, UNC School of Social Work, and Healthy Blue. Announcement of the winners will be made in June at the reTHINK Permanency Conference, hosted by CHSNC.
Should you have any questions about the Family Champion Awards or the reTHINK Permanency Conference, please contact the Institute for Family at information@instituteforfamily.org.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
June 15, 2023
McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh, North Carolina
Hosted by the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina and in partnership with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Learn more
The CHSNC reTHINK Permanency: Unlocking Pathways from Foster Care to Family Conference brings family service professionals and advocates together to explore permanency planning for youth experiencing foster care. Explore all paths to family for youth experiencing foster care. Discover how you can help youth in care find loving, stable homes and achieve child well-being. Rethink how professionals and advocates work together to help youth achieve permanency through reinstatement of parental rights, reunification, kinship care, custody, guardianship, and adoption in North Carolina. Be inspired by social work thought leaders and families with lived experience to find new approaches that unlock pathways from foster care to family.
- Keynote: April Dinwoodie
- Keynote: Kevin Wanzer
- Fatherhood Panel
- Justin and Alexis Black
- Glenda Clare, Ph.D.
- Wendy’s Wonderful Kids at Dave Thomas Foundation
The Family Champion Awards is underwritten by Healthy Blue and presented by the Institute for Family.
