Named in honor of Casey's former president and CEO Ruth Massinga, these awards honor foster care constituents who work to provide, improve and prevent the need for foster care.

Award recipients excel in supporting their constituency groups with distinguished professional work, exceptional leadership, and relentless dedication to volunteer service.

Submit a 2008 Ruth Massinga Award nomination now.

Ruth Massinga Award Categories

The Ruth Massinga Awards are bestowed on constituents who have distinguished themselves in one of four categories: foster parents, alumni, kinship caregivers, and birth parents.

Foster Parents Award

For a licensed provider of in-home care who has greatly exceeded the standard of duty in supporting foster parents over the last two years, who has been a leading advocate for improvement in the child welfare system, and who can always be counted on to contribute.

Alumni Award

For an adult (18 years of age or older) who was at any time in an out-of-home placement, who has helped other alumni find their voice, and who has been a model of effective leadership.

Kinship Caregivers Award

For a licensed or nonlicensed relative who provides in-home care for a family member and who has been a consistent voice in the call for support of kinship caregivers and youth in their care. This includes caregivers who are unrelated by either birth or marriage to a child in their care but whose relationship with that child takes on the character of a family relationship.

Birth Parents Award

For a birth parent who has given service above and beyond reasonable expectations on behalf of birth families and who has been a leader in working to improve the system. This includes overcoming tremendous adversity, cooperating with child welfare professionals, and consistently taking actions in the best interests of birth parents.