Recipients of the Tom Moan Memorial Award for Excellence in Child Welfare Casework:

As many of you know, Tom Moan had a long career in child welfare, serving in many capacities, from caseworker to Deputy Director.  This annual award is named in his honor and recognizes child welfare caseworkers from around the state who demonstrate exceptional leadership and achievement in the field of child welfare. The award is supported by contributions made to a separately incorporated fund by Tom Moan Memorial Award donors and it is administered by a committee that consists of Tom’s two children Rolf and Tamara, community partners, friends of Tom and past award recipients. 

Beginning in 2008, the Award Committee began soliciting, and recognizing, nominees for the statewide Tom Moan Award from each of the Oregon Department of Human Services' 16 districts. Each district nominee was recognized at a ceremony in his or her home district, and a member of the Award Committee was present at each ceremony.  The statewide award recipient was then selected from those nominees. 

Elisa DeSerano is the 2025 recipient of the Tom Moan Award. For this award cycle the recipient receives an award ceremony, a plaque, and a certificate signed by the ODHS and Child Welfare Directors. Due to a directive by our Governor and executive leadership at the ODHS level to end out of state travel, attendance at the national Child Welfare League of America conference will not be included.

Elisa DeSerano has over 26 years of experience as a permanency caseworker, starting back in 1999 when most of the work was handwritten and she had to share a corded desk phone with another person. Since working at Child Welfare for more than half of her life, she has enjoyed the long relationships she has been able to establish with her kids and families and still gets a kick when they reach out to her a decade or two later and tell of their accomplishments.  Her coworkers find her positive and inspiring and the first and loudest to laugh when it’s needed the most.  When Elisa is not at work, if there is an animal in need, Elisa will add it to her menagerie of pets at home.

Caitlin Cox is the 2024 recipient of the Tom Moan Award.

Caitlin Cox was born and raised in Southern Oregon before moving to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon. In 2013 Caitlin received her Bachelors Degree. She then returned to Grants Pass to live close to her family. Caitlin started working for Child Welfare in 2018 where she worked for 4.5 years in CPS before transferring to permanency, where she currently is a lead worker in her unit. Working for Child Welfare and serving her community is her passion and life mission. Caitlin feels honored to be a voice for children in the community whose parents cannot or will not be their voice. She believes everyone has the ability to make positive changes in their lives. When Caitlin it not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, at the lake or in the mountains.

Award Recipients by Year:
2025 Elisa DeSerano (D3, Salem)
2024 Caitlin Cox
2023 Carlota Araujo (D12, Hermiston County)
2022: Amanda Catchpole (D1, Columbia County) and Alex Ronning (D10, Deschutes County)
2021: Sarah Dielman (D1, Astoria, Clatsop County) and Skye Hopkins (D16, Hillsboro, Washington County)
2020: Lyndsie Wynn (D10, Redmond)
2019: David Owens (D5, Lane County)
2018: Brenna Mollerstrom (D4, Benton County) and Angie Whittaker (D1, Astoria)
2017: Kelly O'Donnell (D15, North Clackamas) and Molly Taylor (D16 Hillsboro/Beaverton)
2016: Kristen Storms-Anderson
2015: Amy Amador and Estella Namahoe  
2014: Andrea Birchman, Brandi Moles and Cass Griffin
2013: Karen Cummins and Eva Pattee
2012: Barb Northrop
2011: Larry Files and Erik Tannler
2010: Octavia Merrill
2009: Ann-Marie Pegnone
2008: Jim Mollerstrom
2007: Julie Buzzard
2006: Amy Sierzega
2005: Sharla Canfield and Jeanette Grant
2004: Breeze Chanti and Jan Hege
2002: Marty Lowry
2001: Pamela Aarons
1999: Ed Lund
1998: Devon Burris
1997: Lee Adams and Lois Neuman
1996: Emery Gardner and Harley Miller
1995: Lori Hinkel and Vicki Rose
1992: Pat Loewinger and Pat O'Brien
1988: Sandra Adams
1987: Lee Wentworth
1986: Warren Greco