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CCWSC Outstanding Field Instructor
This award is for a field instructor (or task supervisor), who supports CCWSC scholars in completing their required internship at IV-E Colorado agency. (Please note that this instructor does NOT need to have been a scholar themselves or a social worker.) This award recognizes for the instructors role in supporting and inspiring students as they learn more about child welfare practice. This instructor is someone who helps scholars build confidence and competence in our field and a vision for a career with an impact.
2024 Award Winner - Amy M. Espinoza, LCSW
Human Services Operations Manager
Denver Human Services – City & County of Denver
From Amy’s Nomination: Amy is a administrator I at Denver County, working with our support teams. Something that I love about Amy and the support that she provides is her approach. Amy really comes to this work with a humble approach, always willing and wanting to learn from others, curious and open to hearing what others can bring to a discussion. Her curious and humble nature are qualities that I believe are wonderful examples for interns entering this field. In addition, she has for many years provided LCSW supervision for our staff including interns. She fits this into her busy schedule with no reward, but giving back. She is a reliable, thoughtful, wise and engaging support for staff in the Child Welfare field. She offers a space for professional development both through thought and pragmatic requirements for licensure. We are so lucky to have Amy as a leader at our agency and intern field supervisor.
CCWSC Outstanding Alumni/Graduate
This award is for a scholar who has graduated from their social work program and is still part of the Colorado child welfare community. This scholar demonstrates excellence in their commitment to families and their success. The scholar lives the values of social work and is leading by example in their career. Both BSSW and MSW graduates are eligible for this award.
2024 Award Winner - Sheila Strouss, MSW
Child, Family, & Adult Services Division Manager
Garfield County Department of Human Services
From Sheila’s nomination: Sheila values personal relationships. Throughout Sheila’s movement in her professional career, she has continued to stay connected to the everyday activities of child welfare work. She shares triumphs when clients are successful and reluctantly accepts that not all successful outcomes mean reunification with a birth family. There are many examples of Sheila’s commitment to children and families. In my role as director, I don’t always get to experience the individual successes felt by the team of dedicated individuals in child welfare. The “stories” I do hear, is the introduction of new programming to meet the specific needs of our families, the approval of resources well above and beyond what would be considered acceptable for a parent, Sheila championing and encouraging workers to go that extra mile, sharp criticism and holding caseworkers accountable when “sloppy” casework is exposed. Sheila shares her special moments when families from the past reach out to her either in a moment of crisis knowing she will be there to lend an ear or make recommendations on a resource or to share a particularly happy experience in their life. The relationships she developed as a caseworker and through her supervision of workers is always referenced by Sheila as some of the happiest experiences in her professional career. She continues to stay involved as situations and time allows. During these times I witness Sheila as being energized and passionate.
Sheila started her social work career in an entry level position. She provided intensive 1:1 through mentoring and coaching to a struggling parent. She then accepted a position as a child welfare caseworker, was promoted to supervisor and in the past five years moved into macro level management positions incorporating responsibilities to include child welfare and other areas of social work. Throughout her movement Sheila has continued to stay involved and passionate about individuals at a micro level. She advocates, gets involved, and exercises influence in situations where she perceives injustice. Her sense of service, social justice and integrity is strong. Sheila’s perspective/lens in all case conferences reflects her beliefs in treating individuals with dignity and respect. When a termination is imminent it is only after she has promoted and allowed for every possible resource to be exhausted on the family. The nominee is highly competent and has a unique ability to analyze a situation from multiple vantage points. She takes her lived experience in child welfare work and utilizes this knowledge at a macro level when participating in groups that influence policy. For the reasons outlined above I feel Sheila is an excellent candidate for the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Award.
CCWSC County Innovation Award
2024 Award Winner - Douglas County
Douglas County was chosen for this award because of their efforts to recruit, educate, train, support and retain child welfare professionals in ways that are truly outside of the box. The child welfare workforce crisis requires professional, strategic and fresh approaches. Douglas County’s innovations have led to a county culture of learning and professional development with a dedicated leader on staff (Liz Walz), paid internships for people who are new to the profession, additional internship positions, and a commitment to new strategies that will ultimately support the outcomes for children and families.
Pictured below: Liz Walz and Kirstin Ferguson
CCWSC Outstanding Contributor
2024 Award Winner - Liz Huffman, LCSW
Practice Coach Supervisor
Jefferson County
Liz was chosen for this award because of her tireless work to support interns in Jefferson County. The CCWSC recognizes her strong leadership skills, her role in creating Jefferson County’s “Junior Level Internship Experience” and support of employees to continue their education and professional development through paid internships and employee-based internships. Thank you for being a reliable core member of our CCWSC leadership team! We recognize and appreciate your contributions to creating a culture of learning and excellence.