ARIZONA

Edward Casillas is a leader and trailblazer in Tucson, Arizona, developing support programs for fathers and serving as a positive role model to his community. Edward’s own experience with the child welfare system inspired him to not only reunify with his children in five months but also to take on the roles he is in today. He works as the program and services development manager at the Family Involvement Center, focused on increasing service delivery and building family support programs in Southern Arizona. His leadership enabled him to fulfill his vision of expanding support programs for fathers and families in his community. He most recently became a member of the National Advisory Council of the Alliance Resiliency Project to help keep families strong, providing support and resources to aid them in getting through the pandemic. He is a certified facilitator with the Nurturing Fathers evidence-based parenting program and is a member of the Parent Advisory Collaborative within the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Edward received the

Resilient Family Award from Arizona’s Child Abuse Prevention Committee in 2015, and in 2016 he received the Champion for Children and Families Award from Child and Family Resources in Arizona.

IDAHO

Debbie and Elliott Dorsey became licensed Casey foster parents in rural Idaho when a sibling group needed a safe home. The Dorseys took the children in and successfully completed the extensive licensing process. The Dorseys stepped up once again when they met a transgender foster youth named Jayde. They chose to throw themselves into loving, understanding and supporting Jayde in his transition and they have put an extraordinary amount of work into developing a strong and lasting relationship. The Dorseys, who have been foster parents to 10 children, are active in Jayde’s therapeutic process and are highly involved in his school and extra-curricular activities. They advocate on his behalf in court, at school and at home. They also support Jayde having a close relationship with his birth family. Jayde has lived with the Dorseys for nearly two years and they recently became his legal guardians.

WASHINGTON

Autumn Adams is a member of the Yakama Nation and an alumni of foster care. Autumn was awarded guardianship of her two younger siblings to keep her family together and maintain their cultural heritage and teachings. She was one of 12 foster alumni to participate in the Foster Youth Internship program through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in 2020. She is a national leader and was selected by the Center for Native American Youth as a “Champion for Change,” advocating for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Adams was featured in the Yakima Herald-Republic’s “39 Under 39” special section in 2019 for her advocacy for children affected by implementation inconsistencies within ICWA. She is also very active in issues affecting Native youth, including education, missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and maintaining Native children’s connection to their culture. Autumn graduated from Central Washington University in 2020, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and minoring in museum studies and American Indian studies.

CALIFORNIA

Dr. Sharrica Miller’s experience in foster care drives her to be a passionate educator and advocate and to serve as a strong voice for youth in care and those transitioning out of foster care. She spent most of her childhood in and out of California’s foster care system, enduring constant uncertainty and upheaval. Driven by her love for reading and passion for writing, she earned her bachelor’s degree, then went on to achieve master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing. Now an assistant professor at California State University, Fullerton’s School of Nursing, Dr. Miller is also a mentor on campus with the Guardian Scholars Program. In 2019, Dr. Miller was awarded the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award at Cal State Fullerton for her efforts on campus. She is a longtime member of the California Youth Connection, and a founding co-chair of the Director’s Child Welfare Advisory Council for the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services, focused on improving child welfare policy.

Debbie Stolz

Lovingly called “the Mother Teresa of Foster Care” by her peers, Debbie Stolz was known as a kind and compassionate caregiver, with an enormous capacity for love and dedication to abused and neglected children. A foster parent for 36 years, her voice as a leader of the resource parent community was much sought after and highly respected. She served on numerous task forces and committees over the years. Debbie spent many hours mentoring foster parents on the special care of infants and toddlers with histories of abuse, neglect and trauma. She used her expertise as a foster parent to help other parents cope and not give up on the children in their home. She worked as a parent partner for Fred Finch Youth and Family Services in its Comprehensive Assessment and Stabilization Services division, working with children of all ages with a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns. Debbie also played a key role as an advocate in the passing of statewide legislation, testifying with other foster parents before the State Assembly on behalf of the parents, relatives or guardians of children in care. Debbie died in July 2020.