The Cura Awards

The NYS Kinship Navigator and the NYS Kincare Coalition established The Cura Awards in 2015 to annually recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of those involved with kinship care.

A volunteer committee reviews nominations and select honorees in the following categories:

Outstanding Professional – An individual working in the field of kinship care or related field or that has had a significant positive impact on kinship care in New York State as a result of their work.
Outstanding Organization – A nonprofit organization in New York State providing kinship care or that has had a significant positive impact on kinship care.
Outstanding Kinship Caregiver – Any kinship caregiver living in New York State that has demonstrated outstanding selflessness, leadership or has overcome tremendous barriers.
Kinship Champion: A state or national official or organization leader who has vigorously worked to help kinship families.

2021

Kinship Caregivers listed from upper left to lower right

Outstanding Kinship Caregivers
- Doris Lewis, Brooklyn
- Ellen Earley, Cazenovia
- Kathleen and Faino Coleman, White Plains
- Kate and David Kruk, Rotterdam
- John Medina, Brooklyn

Kinship Professionals listed from upper left to right

Kinship Champion: Senator Roxanne Persaud, Chair, Social Services Committee
Lifetime Achievement Award: Gerard Wallace, Founder, NYS Kinship Navigator
Outstanding Professional: Marya Gilborn, Director of Social Services, The Family Center
Outstanding Organization: Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York

2020

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Sharon Johnson, Yonkers, NY
Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Kim Hinkson, Staten Island, NY
Outstanding Professional: Carolyn Fluckinger, Director, Family Service Society of Yonkers’ Kinship Support Program
Outstanding Organization: Kinship Families of the North Country: Allyson McDonald & Juliette Lynch, Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country
Kinship Champion: Greg Olsen, Acting Director, NYS Office for the Aging

2019

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and Kinship Caregiver Champion Gloria Woods with her son, grandson, great-grandson, and Jerry Wallace

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Crystal Hosannah
Outstanding Professional: Deb Faulks, Family Enrichment Network
Outstanding Organization: Cattaraugus County Kinship System of Care
Kinship Champion: Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Kinship Champion: Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi

Lifetime Achievement Awards:
Kinship Caregiver Champions

Maria Lemons
Maggie Lee
Doris Williams
Brigitte Castellano
Linda James
Gloria Woods
Cindi and Jeff Fountain

2018

Outstanding Professional, Susan Antos, surrounded by Kinship Navigator Director’s Jerry Wallace and Rae Glaser and kinship caregiver champions

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Cheryl Starks, NYC
Outstanding Professional: Susan Antos, Esq., Empire Justice Center
Outstanding Organization: Onondaga County Department of Children and Families Child Welfare Division
Kinship Champion: Sheila Poole, Acting Commissioner, NYS Office of Children and Family Services

2017

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Leora Keith, NYC
Outstanding Professional: Bill Ferris, AARP
Outstanding Organization: Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, Inc. – Kinship Care Program
Kinship Champion: Senator Marty Golden
Kinship Champion: Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee
Kinship Champion: Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer

2016

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Marguerite Roper, Brooklyn
Outstanding Organization: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County, Relatives as Parents Program
Kinship Champion: Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo
Kinship Champion: Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins

2015

Outstanding Kinship Caregiver: Barbara Denniston, Orange County
Outstanding Professional: David Shapiro, Center for Elder Law and Justice
Outstanding Organization: GrandPower Advocates of the Family Service Society of Yonkers