Putting Families First Awards Nominations Now Open!

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is now accepting nominations for the inaugural Secretary’s Putting Families First Awards! 

This awards ceremony will recognize and celebrate all of the folks – including county and tribal child welfare (Child Protective Services/Youth Justice) professionals, parents with lived experience and key community partners – who are doing exceptional, transformational work that Puts Families First. This includes individuals or teams who advocate for families and system change; work to support families in their homes; value collaboration and partnership with families and community partners; and much more!

Anyone can nominate an individual or team for this award – including agency staff, parents, support systems, school staff, peers, advocates and others – so please share this form widely with your networks!

Nominations are due by end of day Sunday, March 17 and can be submitted using this form. 

Previously, DCF’s spring awards ceremony (the Caring for Kids Awards) recognized child welfare professionals who go above and beyond to support Wisconsin’s children and families in thriving. Because we know there are many partners who are transforming the child welfare system to become more family-focused and collaborative in serving more children in-home, DCF is expanding the ceremony to honor their contributions and better reflect the partnerships that make this transformation possible. 

The Putting Families First Awards will continue to recognize the crucial work child welfare professionals are doing while also recognizing parents with lived experience and other community partners (like legal and judicial stakeholders, tribal partners, county board members, educators, etc.). This new ceremony will be a space to elevate the necessary work these groups are doing, as well.

Any questions about the nomination form or the Putting Families First Awards can be sent to the Putting Families First team.