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. 

In 2023 we honor Carlota Araujo as the recipient of the Tom Moan Award. The award will enable her to attend the national Child Welfare League of America conference this coming year.

Carlota Araujo has over 10 years of experience as a caseworker and is a former child protective service worker. She is bilingual and uses this skill to communicate with individual clients and to conduct trainings. Carlota finds culturally appropriate services for parents and takes her time explaining child welfare practice and procedures to families or community partners who may not know the inner workings of DHS. She often mentors coworkers and has served as a team leader and helped with developing branch protocol when Temp Lodging was being established. Most importantly she is a calm, collected, and respectful resource for families and children. She works with them face to face whenever possible and is an unstoppable cheerleader for them, even when decisions are difficult or the path forward cannot play out as desired. Carlota enjoys raising her own daughter (Ivy, 8 years old) and maintains healthy boundaries to nurture herself and her own family.

In 2022 we honored two recipients with the Tom Moan Award, Amanda Catchpole and Alex Ronning. The award will allow them to attend the national Child Welfare League of America conference during the coming year.

Amanda Catchpole lived through a challenging childhood and upbringing but it has motivated her all-consuming desire to help others. She started her social work career answering phones and went on to complete the MSW program at Portland State while working as an SSA full time; today she's a certified LCSW, supervising others as they complete their practicums with the agency. In 2016 she helped rewrite the training materials for resource parents, incorporating new information on trauma and how it effects children's physical, mental, and emotional growth. She's been at the forefront of incorporating equity and inclusivity in her work with families, parents, and staff trainings. Never afraid of a challenge, Amanda has been known to push back when others say it's not possible; she makes the impossible happen and brings her formidable talents and tenacity to help those in need.

Alex Ronning spent three years as a child protective services worker. For the past five years, she's worked as a certifier, proving herself as a leader among her peers. While she holds a Master's in Behavioral Science and a Bachelor's in Criminal Science, Alex is also trained specifically to support colleagues who have experienced trauma and crisis events. She is a strong advocate for resource families but also has great judgment in assessing the safety of children. She values positivity and builds that into her care for fellow staff as well as with children in foster care and their resource families.  A quiet listener, Alex is a thoughtful contributor to finding solutions for everyone, no matter their background or position in life. Everyone emphasizes Alex's compassion when speaking of her and she is much beloved. Some foster parents, when they call in to speak with her, say, "Is my Alex there?"

Award Recipients by Year:
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

2023 District Nominees:
Elizabeth Keating (D3, Marion County)
Michael Lansdon (D3, Marion County)
Dustin May (D7, Coos County)
Kristin Irby (D9, The Dalles)
Christine Wepener (D9, The Dalles)

2022 District Nominees:
Amanda Hurst (D3, Polk County)
Isabel Garcia (D3, Marion County)
Mark Davis (D4, Benton County)
Reo French (D6, Douglas County)
Heather Glazier (D8, Jackson County)
Paul Homan Anderson (D8, Jackson County)
Philip Herrera (D13, Baker County)
Natalee Evans (D15, Clackamas County)
Courtney Langner (Oregon Child Abuse Hotline - ORCAH, Multnomah County)

2021 District Nominees:
Anna Rios (D1, Clatsop County)
Nina foster (D2, Multnomah County)
Liselott Hernandez Olivera (D3, Marion County)
Thomas Hodge (D3, Yamhill County)
Cathy Coleman (D4, Linn County)
Twyla Kelley (D5, Lane County)
Cynthia Ramirez (D7, Coos County)
Lila Wade (D8, Josephine County)
Dominique Rich (D8, Jackson County)
Joseph McUne (D8, Jackson County)
Rebekah Lawrence (D8, Jackson County)
Jennifer Jone (D9, Wasco County)
Sally Johns (D10, Deschutes County)
Leslie Hinds (D11, Klamath County)
Kiana Bustamante (D12, Umatilla County)
Ashley Burgess (D13, Union County)
Melissa Jacobs (D14, Malheur County)
Zachary Tharp (D15, Clackamas County)
Wayne Kohnke (D16, Washington County)

2020 District Nominees:
Amanda Sinclair (District 2, East Multnomah)
Faith Decides (District 10, Madras)
Heather Wise (District 12, Hermiston)
Lori Allan (District 7, North Bend)

2019 District Nominees:
Cindi Corrie (D6, Roseburg)
Domitilla Telles (D9, The Dalles)
Jennifer Maile (D8, Medford)
Michelle Zurcher (D2, East)
Rachel Greer (D12, Boardman)
Alexandra Ronning (D10, Redmond))
Katlin Cody (D9, The Dalles)

2018 District Nominees:
Christina Foley (D2, Alberta Branch)
Loma Caughell (D5, Eugene Willamette office)
Ana Lacey (D9, The Dalles)
Taunie Leash (D9, The Dalles)
Hillary Roeder (D3, Salem)

2017 District Nominees:
Kelly Paluso: D2, Midtown
Angela Bowers: D3, Polk
Jeanine Hilburn: D10, Redmond
Debra Bennett: D13, Baker City
Jill Klein: D15, North Clackamas
Allie Fahsholz: D16, Beaverton

2016 District Nominees:
Adrienne Clark: D3, Marion Branch
Chandra Bettis: D16, Hillsboro
Lisa Williams:  D5, Lane County, Gateway Branch

2015 District Nominees:
Dave Schmidt (District 3: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties)
Shannon Tavernier (District 3: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties)
Dave Owens (District 5: Lane County)
Terry Williams (District 5: Lane County)
Elizabeth Crowe (District 9: Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties)
Katie Ortgies (District 10: Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties)
Nancy Stark (District 12: Morrow and Umatilla Counties)
Debbie Qualker-Quintanal (District 16: Washington County)
Chandra Bettis  

2012 District Nominees:
Darcie Gates (District 3: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties)
Brandi Moles (District 1: Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties)
Cass Griffen (District 16: Washington County)

2011 District Nominees:
Kameron Trumbo (District 3: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties)
Karen Irving (District 2: Multnomah County)
Erin Gladstone (District 16: Washington County)
Sarah Sanders (District 7: Coos and Curry Counties)
Jody Meza (District 6: Washington County)

2010 District Nominees:
Julie Heuer (District 1: Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties)
Octavia Merrill (District 2: Multnomah County)
Frannie McMahon (District 7: Coos and Curry Counties)
Sue Carpenter (District 10: Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties)
Cindi Bensching (District 12: Morrow and Umatilla Counties)
Brenda Leavitt (District 13: Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties)
Kelly Ingles (District 16: Washington County)

2009 District Nominees:
Alex Jackson (District 4: Benton, Linn, and Lincoln Counties)
Skip Moses (District 5: Lane County)
Jessica Hunter (District 6: Douglas County)
Toni Smith (District 7: Coos and Curry Counties)
Penny Diane Esser (District 8: Jackson and Josephine Counties)
Derek Wright (District 9: Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties)
Kristina Spitz (District 10: Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties)
Jodine Frost (District 12: Morrow and Umatilla Counties)
Nancy Bardizian (District 13: Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties)
Ann-Marie Pegnone (District 15: Clackamas County)
Jim Perillo (District 16: Washington County)