This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to children through his or her extraordinary promotion of the Children’s Advocacy Center model. This individual has moved the field forward through vision, leadership, and the ability to reach and motivate great numbers of people.

• Who is eligible? Any individual who has made several significant and outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Children’s Advocacy Center movement. The nominee must be a Senator, Member of Congress, state legislator, or state or local policymaker and must have had influence beyond a single Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Criteria for selection:
  • Demonstrated complete support of the mission of Children’s Advocacy Centers.
  • Exhibited extraordinary leadership that resulted in the enhancement of the CAC model. 
  • Demonstrated initiative in raising awareness of issues facing abused children and the Children’s Advocacy Center role in advocating for the best interests of the child and the community.
  • Took significant action to promote Children’s Advocacy Centers beyond his or her immediate community in areas such as the creation of legislation affecting CACs, resource development, research, improvement of standards of practice, etc.

These awards recognize an individual or organization who has demonstrated exemplary and sustained commitment to financially support the Children’s Advocacy Center movement. There are two categories for this award, 1) the National Philanthropy Leadership Award and 2) the Community Philanthropy Leadership Award. 

• Who is eligible? The national award is for philanthropists that have financially supported the National Children’s Alliance, and the community award is for philanthropists that have financially supported local CACs or Chapters. The awards will be given to an individual or organization(s) whose sustained generosity has had an appreciable impact on the viability and reach of the benefiting organization; moreover, the nominee has assumed a leadership role in giving, encouraging others to take on philanthropic roles in the organization. 
• Criteria for selection:
  • Direct support has enabled the Children’s Advocacy Center/State Chapter to build capacity and/or enhance or develop programs. 
  • Demonstrated encouragement and motivation to others to assume philanthropic roles.
  • Exhibited leadership in helping the organization to achieve its fundraising goals and direct support has been provided over an extended/sustained period of time.

(The recipient of the National Philanthropy Award will be selected by NCA based on the same criteria as it relates to the national organization.)

This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated, over the course of a career, a dedication to the Children’s Advocacy Center movement and a strengthening of the CAC model. Through the nominee’s efforts, the development or significant expansion of one or more Children’s Advocacy Centers has been ensured. The nominee has led by example and demonstrated the spirit of collaboration that is the hallmark of MDT work. And, the nominee has passed on his/her professional knowledge to the next generation of CAC leaders through mentoring (whether formal or informal), coaching, and training. 

• Who is eligible? Any person who has, in his or her professional capacity within the CAC field, made several significant and outstanding contributions. The nominee must be directly associated with one or more Children’s Advocacy Centers.
• Criteria for selection
  • Has been a leader in the CAC movement at the local, state, or national level
  • Has mentored or trained other CAC leaders 
  • Has taken significant action to develop or expand Children’s Advocacy Centers at the local, state, or national level
  • Has worked in one or more CACs at least 15 years

This award recognizes an individual/group who has demonstrated innovation, creativity, and resourcefulness in the development and implementation of programs, practices, or public awareness campaigns in a Children’s Advocacy Center or NCA Chapter. The nominee has utilized groundbreaking strategies to improve mental health programs, public awareness, management practices, or child advocacy, thereby empowering others to better serve children and communities.

• Who is eligible? Any individual/group who has made significant and outstanding contributions to a local Children’s Advocacy Center or NCA Chapter. The nominee must be directly associated with one or more Children’s Advocacy Centers and/or NCA Chapters. 
• Criteria for selection
  • Exhibited leadership, creativity, and resourcefulness in the development and implementation of an innovative program or practice in a Children’s Advocacy Center or NCA Chapter
  • Innovative program/practice attributed to this individual/group falls in the category of mental health, public awareness, management practices, or child advocacy 
  • Took significant action to promote one or more Children’s Advocacy Centers or NCA Chapters

This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to an NCA Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers through his or her professional endeavors. Through the nominee’s efforts, the establishment and/or success of a Chapter of CACs has been ensured. The nominee has facilitated or participated in teamwork and is recognized for his or her essential leadership attributes and contributions to the process. The nominee has facilitated or helped to lead movement-building, and is recognized for their essential leadership attributes and contributions to the strength of their state’s CACs.

• Who is eligible? Any person who has, in his or her professional capacity, made several significant and outstanding contributions to a Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers. The nominee must be directly associated with an NCA Chapter.
• Criteria for selection: 

• Exhibited outstanding leadership qualities resulting in the establishment, continuation, or success of a Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers in such areas as fund-raising, alliance building, program improvements, community and legislative advocacy, etc.
• Demonstrated extraordinary initiative in providing an atmosphere conducive to effective team works for Children's Advocacy Centers
• Took significant action to promote Children's Advocacy Centers statewide

This award recognizes an individual volunteer or group whom has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children's Advocacy Center. Through the nominee's efforts, the viability of the Children's Advocacy Center has been appreciably affected. 

• Who is eligible? Any individual or group who has made significant and outstanding contributions to one or more local Children's Advocacy Center(s). The nominee must be directly associated with one or more Children's Advocacy Center(s).
• Criteria for selection:
  • Exhibited outstanding leadership resulting in the development, continuation, or enhancement of one or more Children's Advocacy Center(s) in such areas as fund-raising, advocacy, community awareness, etc.
  • Demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative, or creativity in support of one or more Children's Advocacy Center(s). Took significant action to promote one or more Children's Advocacy Centers.