Leadership honorees
These awards are a national recognition of the accomplishments of remarkable individuals, especially those with lived experience in the child welfare system, who are working to safely reduce the need for foster care and build Communities of Hope. The awards recognize those who have demonstrated outstanding work, exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to improving child and family well-being in the United States.
Meet the 2026 Leadership Honorees
Select the photo below to learn more about these leaders and changemakers who are making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Kim Johnson
Secretary | California Health and Human Services Agency
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Angie Schwartz
Deputy Director | Children and Family Services Division at the California Department of Social Services
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, and Angie Schwartz, deputy director of the Child and Family Services Division at California Department of Social Services (CDSS), have worked together to transform California’s child welfare system to reduce the need for foster care and strengthen outcomes for children and families. Their leadership has helped build the foundations of a well-being system that enables children and families to heal and thrive.
In 2024, California became the first state in the nation to restructure foster care rates in a youth-centered way. The new, permanent, tiered rate structure is based on each child’s assessed strengths and needs, not placement type, so even children in family settings receive the individualized support they need.
Under their leadership, California has become a true kin-first state, embedding kinship care as a priority across its multi-county system. Johnson and Schwartz spearheaded this shift, transforming statewide culture to elevate the voices of relative caregivers and ensure services reflect family, culture and community. An ongoing support for these efforts is the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support to provide culturally responsive training and technical assistance to county partners. CDSS launched the Center in partnership with the University of California, Davis in 2024.
California is also advancing from a model of mandated reporting to one of community supporting. The task force leading this effort—comprised of representatives from multiple counties, sectors and lived experiences—has issued data-backed recommendations that offer key levers for systemic change.
Thanks to their shared vision, an eagerness to collaborate and a relentless focus, California has also seen dramatic reductions in out-of-state and in-state group placements and in the overall number of youth in foster care.
Together, Secretary Johnson and Deputy Director Schwartz have integrated system reform and transformative policy, positioning California as a national leader in child and family well-being.
Stephanie Muth
Former Commissioner | Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Stephanie Muth served as commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from January 2023 through July 2025, leading the agency during a time of profound challenge and change. When she assumed the role, DFPS was facing unprecedented staff turnover and a placement crisis that left many youth without stable housing. During her tenure, she focused on reducing turnover, enhancing placement and treatment options for children with acute behavioral health needs, overseeing a comprehensive transformation of the foster care rate system and expanding community-based care across Texas.
Before becoming commissioner, Muth spent two decades in Texas state government, including senior leadership roles at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). As State Medicaid Director, she managed both operational and policy aspects of a program serving more than four million Texans. She also led a major reorganization of health and human services programs and modernized the state’s eligibility system.
Muth stepped down from DFPS in July 2025, leaving a record of leadership dedicated to strengthening systems that serve children and families
La La Land Kind Café
DALLAS, TEXAS
The La La Land Foundation is a nonprofit organization rooted in a simple but powerful mission: to support youth transitioning out of foster care with meaningful opportunities, resources and community. What began in 2017 as the We Are One Project has since grown into a multi-tiered movement that centers kindness, belonging and empowerment for young people facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
In 2019, the foundation brought its mission to life with the launch of the first La La Land Kind Café. More than a coffee shop, the cafe serves as a job training platform for former foster youth, offering paid internships that help young adults build employment skills, confidence and a sense of purpose. The experience is not limited to work behind the counter—the internship program is designed to meet the full needs of its participants, with access to housing assistance, mental health support and personal mentorship.
The foundation’s commitment to holistic support continues to grow, extending well beyond the café through partnerships with local businesses and community organizations. These collaborations amplify its impact and foster a culture of inclusion and care, helping young people gain independence while staying connected to a broader network of support.
Through its creative approach and deeply personal mission, the La La Land Foundation is transforming how communities can show up for youth aging out of foster care, one cup of kindness at a time.
