Caregivers, Advocates Honored at Kinship Care Month Celebration
During Kinship Care Month, we celebrate the treasured natural resource of kinship caregivers statewide, and highlight the important contribution that kin make in supporting and raising children, along with the advocates who fight so fiercely for them.
Kinship Care refers to non-parent relatives – grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings – or close family friends who take on the responsibility of raising a child when the parent is unable to do so. In New York, some 195,000 children are living with relatives or family friends who are their primary caregivers.
We’re so pleased to be able to highlight the important contribution that Kinship Caregivers play in supporting and raising children. Each of the honorees is helping to raise stronger kids and build a better future for all of us in New York.
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 selects 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.
2025 Cura Award Winners:
- Kinship Champion – Pat O’Brien, AFFCNY
- Kinship Professional – Danielle Kielar, Catholic Charities of Buffalo
- Kinship Caregivers
- Antoinette Sumter Cotman, Kings County
- Della Smith, Kings County
- Ebony Smith, Monroe County
- Judith Irby, Bronx County
- Kati Jones, Montgomery County
- Mery Lopez, New York County
- Michelle Sullivan, Jefferson County
- Sandra Jenkins, Queens County
- Sharon Gray, Ulster County
- Vernetta Davis, Albany County
