2025 Sarah Duncan Award Nominees Announced

In celebration of National Social Work Month in March, the Northern Academy invited colleagues and community partners in the Northern California region to nominate an outstanding social worker for the 2025 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…

Jessica Chapman, Yuba County: Jessica’s nominating colleague commends Jessica’s trauma-informed approach to problem-solving, along with her value in building strong relationships based on kindness and strength, even in the face of differences. Her colleague also marvels at her ability to “remain optimistic and persistent in adversity, coordinating alternative responses to support families and service providers in overcoming setbacks.”

Cassandra Davis, Nevada County: Cassandra’s nominating colleague describes her as an “exceptional social worker who stands out for her deep compassion, dedication, commitment to social justice and to improving the lives of those she serves.” Whether working with children, families or vulnerable populations, Cassandra is described as someone with a unique gift for providing not just support, but hope–going above and beyond to ensure that each client feels heard, understood and valued, offering a sense of stability in often turbulent circumstances. Her colleague added, “She understands that real transformation comes from equipping people with the tools, resources and confidence to make positive changes in their own lives.”

Danielle Maguire, Tuolumne County: Danielle’s nominating colleague writes, “Danielle possesses an extraordinary ability to tackle difficult cases with grace, often coming up with creative and effective solutions to the most complex problems. Whether it’s handling sensitive forensic interviews with professionalism and skill or supporting her colleagues through difficult moments, Danielle leads by example. Her calm demeanor and unwavering focus under pressure inspire those around her and ensure that even in the most high-stress situations, the work gets done well.”

Tiffany Montanez, Mono County: Over the past year, Tiffany took on two consecutive cases involving complex family dynamics. In one, she was the only person a suicidal parent would speak to, staying on the phone for hours to support them. In the second, she maintained consistent engagement with parents despite verbal threats to her person, family and agency, never losing focus on keeping the parents’ children safe and in preventing an interruption in services.

“Tiffany never gives up on a family,” her nominating colleague shared. “No matter how difficult the [situation], she continues to work on engagement and continues to show them that we are here to support them in reaching their family’s goals.”

Teri Polcene, Nevada County: Teri is commended by her nominating colleague for her “deep compassion, tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families.” Teri has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to build trust with her clients, creating a safe and supportive environment for them during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Her colleagues admire her for her leadership and willingness to share knowledge, making her a respected mentor within her organization. “Her work has touched countless lives,” writes her colleague, “and she continues to be a source of hope and support for children and families in need.”

Adriana Salas Rodriguez, El Dorado County: Adriana’s nominating colleague shared a case example in which the parents who had initially presented as verbally aggressive and resistant became more engaged with services over time, and were  eventually reunited as a family. “Although it is the parents that ultimately made the positive changes [to] create a safe and healthy environment for their children,” her colleague shares, “I believe that the relationship they developed with [Adriana] helped them achieve their goals.”

Norah Sheren, Sacramento County: Norah was nominated for this award by two separate colleagues. Her first colleague shared that Norah spends “countless hours tirelessly searching for the right placements for foster youth with some of the most challenging circumstances and backgrounds.” Another colleagued shared a case example of Norah’s work with a youth suffering from multiple mental health disorders. “As the youth navigated through the delinquency system,” her colleague writes, “Norah’s expertise and relationships with the different partners helped to bring a multidisciplinary team together to develop an action plan to ensure the youth’s safe transition to placement.”

Some highly honorable mentions!

We received some additional nominations for human services professionals who are serving children and families outstandingly in their respective leadership positions. While these individuals were not eligible for this particular award, it didn’t feel right not mentioning them at all! Please join us in thanking the following outstanding human services professionals for their ongoing contributions to the safety and stability of California’s children, families and communities.

• Katy Hampson, Del Norte County
• Mandy Moore, Shasta County
• Timothy Nugent, Del Norte County

And the winners are…

…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 2025 Sarah Duncan Champion for Children and Families Award winners. 

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