Social Current is excited to introduce the newest cohort of our Executive Leadership Institute, our yearlong leadership development program held in partnership with Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business. 

This dynamic group of leaders is helping to shape the future of the social sector. They represent a diverse cross-section of human and social services organizations, all united by a shared commitment to helping all people thrive. 

The participants will learn from experts, receive guidance from mentors, and apply their learning to projects that strengthen their organizations. We’re excited to support this cohort on this next step in their leadership journey. 

Learn more about the Executive Leadership Institute online. To stay in the loop about our 2027-2028 institute, share your email.

Announcing the 2026-2027 Executive Leadership Institute Cohort

Joshua Andreyo

Director of Finance
Auberle

Biography

Joshua Andreyo

Director of Finance
Auberle

Joshua currently serves as the Director of Finance at Auberle where he is responsible for overseeing the agency’s finance department. Joshua also works closely with other members of the executive team to ensure alignment between programs, initiatives, and financial operations.

Prior to Auberle Joshua worked as the Chief Operating Officer of a mid-sized, regional civil engineering firm and in global banking operations before that. Joshua has extensive experience in project management, corporate finance, and operations.

Joshua received his Bachelor of Science in Business/Economics from Pennsylvania Western University and a certificate of Entrepreneurial Excellence through the Entrepreneurial Fellowship Class as part of the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh.

When not working, Joshua enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, fly fishing, reading, golfing and volunteering at his daughter’s school, St. Louise de Marillac in Upper St. Clair. Joshua resides in the south hills of Pittsburgh with his wife, daughter, and an eight-pound Shi Tzu-Maltese, Smokey.

Seth Baker

Vice President of People and Culture
Brightpoint

Biography

Seth Baker

Vice President of People and Culture
Brightpoint

Seth Baker is a people and culture leader with deep experience in human resources, organizational development, and strategic workforce planning. He is known for partnering with senior leaders to solve complex business challenges through thoughtful talent strategies, leadership development, and operational excellence. His work spans areas such as organizational design, employee engagement, compensation structures, succession planning, and building inclusive workplace cultures.

Seth brings a strong balance of strategic thinking and practical execution, helping organizations modernize systems, strengthen leadership capability, and align people practices with mission and growth goals. He has a particular strength in communicating complex topics clearly, advising executives on sensitive people matters, asking second level questions, and designing scalable solutions that improve both employee experience and organizational performance.

He is especially effective in mission-driven environments where culture, leadership, and business impact must work hand in hand.

Kira Bellolio

Vice President of Family and Parenting Services
Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Biography

Kira Bellolio

Vice President of Family and Parenting Services
Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Kira Bellolio Murillo was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States at the age of five. She was raised in New York City, where she grew up in a close-knit family that included her parents, sisters, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and other loved ones. Kira is a proud alumna of the Upward Bound program. She earned her undergraduate degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, before attending Western Michigan University’s Thomas Cooley Law School.

Kira’s commitment to victim advocacy began during law school, where she worked with survivors of domestic violence. Over the past twelve years, she has served in various roles advocating for victims’ rights and has presented at both local and national forums on issues impacting survivors. Her extensive training includes certification as a Domestic Violence Counselor, Mediator, Facilitator, and Conflict Coach.

Kira held the position of Director of Family Wellness for almost 10 year prior to stepping into the role of VP. Prior to joining Congreso, she spearheaded restorative justice initiatives and facilitated community mediation efforts in Philadelphia, focusing on conflict resolution and youth development.

 

Kira Bellolio Murillo nació en Ecuador y emigró a los Estados Unidos a la edad de cinco años. Se crió en la ciudad de Nueva York, donde creció en una familia unida que incluía a sus padres, hermanas, abuelos, tías, primos y otros seres queridos. Kira es una orgullosa exalumna del programa Upward Bound. Obtuvo su licenciatura en Gustavus Adolphus College en St. Peter, Minnesota, antes de asistir a la Escuela de Derecho Thomas Cooley de la Universidad Western Michigan.

El compromiso de Kira con la defensa de las víctimas comenzó durante la facultad de derecho, donde trabajó con sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica. En los últimos doce años, ha ocupado diversos roles abogando por los derechos de las víctimas y ha presentado en foros locales y nacionales sobre temas que afectan a los sobrevivientes. Su amplia formación incluye certificaciones como Consejera de Violencia Doméstica, Mediadora, Facilitadora y Coach de Conflictos.

Kira ocupó el cargo de Directora de Bienestar Familiar durante casi 10 años antes de asumir el cargo de Vicepresidenta. Antes de unirse a Congreso, lideró iniciativas de justicia restaurativa y facilitó esfuerzos de mediación comunitaria en Filadelfia, centrándose en la resolución de conflictos y el desarrollo juvenil.

Kira también está profundamente comprometida con su familia. Ella y su esposo Wayne son padres de tres hijos pequeños: Ben, Iggy y Manny. Nuestra familia comparte una pasión por los viajes y nos enorgullece asegurar que nuestros hijos permanezcan conectados con sus herencias ecuatoriana y afroamericana.

Tiffany M. Crumer

Assistant Vice President
MBCH Children and Family Ministries

Biography

Tiffany M. Crumer

Assistant Vice President
MBCH Children and Family Ministries

Tiffany M. Crumer is a dedicated management professional with a strong background in human services and nonprofit leadership. She has a proven track record of leading teams, building meaningful relationships, and delivering impactful services to diverse communities.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, resilience, and strong communication skills, Tiffany is passionate about developing others and creating environments that foster growth and accountability. Her experience spans direct service and leadership roles, where she has consistently worked to improve outcomes and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Tiffany holds both a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree and is committed to continuous learning and professional development. Through the Executive Leadership Institute, she aims to strengthen her strategic leadership skills, expand her cross-sector knowledge, and enhance her ability to lead with greater impact.

Gayle Curry

Executive Director Planning & Development
Hands of Healing Residential Treatment Center

Biography

Gayle Curry

Executive Director Planning & Development
Hands of Healing Residential Treatment Center

Gayle Curry serves as the Executive Director of Planning & Development for a nonprofit organization, where she provides strategic leadership focused on organizational growth, regulatory compliance, and program sustainability. In her role, she works collaboratively with executive leadership, program directors, and community partners to strengthen operational systems, support staff development, and ensure alignment with state and federal standards.

Prior to transitioning into the nonprofit sector in 2014, Gayle built her professional foundation in education—an experience that continues to shape her leadership style, approach to systems, and commitment to thoughtful, intentional communication.

With extensive experience in leadership and oversight, Gayle has guided teams through complex operational challenges within mission-driven organizations. Her leadership approach centers on creating environments where staff feel supported and valued. She prioritizes trust, professional development, and flexibility, recognizing the importance of balancing organizational accountability with empathy and respect for individual needs.

Gayle is committed to continuous learning and believes effective leadership in the nonprofit sector requires adaptability, ethical stewardship, and a strong people-centered approach.

Michelle Riella

Senior Director, Human Resources
Wayfinder Family Services

Biography

Michelle Riella

Senior Director, Human Resources
Wayfinder Family Services

Michelle Riella, MSHR, SPHR, PHRca is the Senior Director, Human Resources at Wayfinder Family Services, with over 20 years in HR across multiple industries, most recently in the non-profit sector. Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master’s degree in Human Resources with a graduate certificate in Organizational Leaders. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Professional in Human Resources, California (PHRca) certifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

She is known for steady, people-first leadership—bringing calm and clarity to complex situations—and for building practical programs that help leaders and teams do their best work. Michelle’s professional experiences include strategic planning, training and development, compliance, employee relations, talent acquisition and juggling the numerous hats HR professionals tend to collect and wear.

Michelle also volunteers with the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), supporting exam development as a writer and coach, which keeps her close to what’s changing in the profession and what practitioners really need.

Junior Dillion

President & CEO
Volunteers of America Upstate New York

Biography

Junior Dillion

President & CEO
Volunteers of America Upstate New York

Dr. Junior Dillion is President and CEO of Volunteers of America Upstate New York, where he leads efforts in supportive housing, homelessness services, and early childhood education. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to nearly 200 staff, serving over 10,000 individuals annually, with a 60% increase in revenue and a 30% improvement in employee retention.

A collaborative, systems-oriented leader, he advances equitable access to opportunity and strong organizational performance. He holds a Ph.D. in Education and Human Development from the University of Rochester and has presented on fatherhood and health equity at statewide forums.

Kathleen Estrada

Vice President of Family and Financial Success
John Boner Neighborhood Centers

Biography

Kathleen Estrada

Vice President of Family and Financial Success
John Boner Neighborhood Centers

Kathleen Estrada, MSW, is a nonprofit executive leader with more than a decade of experience advancing family stability, youth development, and community-centered systems of care. She currently serves as Vice President of Family and Financial Success at John Boner Neighborhood Centers in Indianapolis, where she leads cross-functional teams and large-scale initiatives focused on workforce readiness, financial empowerment, housing stability, youth services and holistic family support.

Kathleen brings deep expertise in strategic planning, grant development, and performance management, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision making, trauma-informed leadership, and inclusive organizational culture. Throughout her career, she has overseen multidisciplinary teams, managed complex public and private funding streams, and built strong partnerships with school districts, government agencies, funders, and community-based organizations.

Her professional background spans executive leadership, regional operations, program development, and direct practice within child welfare and family services systems. Kathleen holds a master’s degree in social work from Western Kentucky University and is passionate about developing leaders who can drive sustainable impact through collaboration, equity, and innovation.

Hailey Juliano

Chief Program Officer
Holy Family Institute

Biography

Hailey Juliano

Chief Program Officer
Holy Family Institute

Hailey Juliano is a registered nurse with over 25 years’ experience in the health and human services sector providing care to children, families, and adults.

She has held both clinical and operational leadership roles and is recognized for building strong program infrastructure, cohesive teams, and meaningful partnerships that support the mission and sustainability of non-profit organizations.

Hailey currently serves as the Chief Program Officer at Holy Family Institute, where she oversees a broad portfolio of programs including Supportive Housing, In-Home Family Services, Parents and Children Together (PACT) truancy intervention program, the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) a cognitive behavioral program, Visit Coaching, Holy Family Specialized Learning, Mount Nazareth Learning Center, 3 Federal contracts providing support to unaccompanied minors, and the region’s largest Customer Assistance Program (CAP).

Hailey holds a Master of Nursing and Master of Health Administration degree from University of Phoenix as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Carlow University.

Chuck Phillips

Assistant Vice President
MBCH Children and Family Ministries

Biography

Chuck Phillips

Assistant Vice President
MBCH Children and Family Ministries

Chuck Phillips serves as Assistant Vice President for MBCH Children and Family Ministries, bringing extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment to strengthening children and families. In his current role, he provides oversight and strategic direction for Foster Care Case Management, Family Resource Development, Treatment Family Care, Pregnancy Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Foster Home Recruitment.

Chuck previously served for 11 years as Program Director, overseeing Family Resource Development, Residential Services, Transitional Living Programs (TLP), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), and Foster Care Case Management. He also served 13 years as Assistant Director of the Residential Program, including IDD, Transitional Living, and Treatment Family Care.

In addition to his administrative leadership, Chuck has been a certified Stewards of Children Trainer for six years, equipping individuals and organizations to better prevent and respond to child abuse.

He earned a Bachelor of Psychology from Pittsburg State University and a Master of Church and Community Ministries from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Chuck and his wife have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of two adult children, ages 25 and 21, and grandparents to one grandchild. Chuck has completed six half marathons, hiked seven Colorado fourteeners, and hiked the Grand Canyon twice.  Chuck loves his church and leads a small group of 9th and 10th grade boys in the youth group.

Deslynne Roberts

Executive Director
National Youth Advocate Program

Biography

Deslynne Roberts

Executive Director
National Youth Advocate Program

Deslynne Roberts is a forward-thinking leader with a strong background in leadership and clinical administration in mental health and community services for non-profit organizations. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) in Illinois- a human service organization with a mission to serve children, families, and communities with compassion.

Deslynne is widely recognized within her organization for her ability to bridge clinical expertise with strategic leadership, helping the organization build responsive, high-quality behavioral health systems that improve outcomes for children, families, and communities, and executive leadership. Her career is marked by a steadfast commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care, weaving these values into both her clinical and organizational leadership roles.

As an Executive Director, Deslynne is known for her drive and motivation, focusing on organizational growth and transformation. She prioritizes innovation, adheres to the mission, remains resilient under stress, and demonstrates integrity and accountability, always considering long-term community effects. Within her organization, Deslynne is recognized for successfully blending clinical expertise with strategic leadership, helping to build high-quality, responsive behavioral health programs that enhance outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Deslynne manages executive leadership responsibilities while also making time for family, self-care practices that include reading, walking, yoga, painting, and savoring coffee and dark chocolate.

Tina Ruiz

Vice President of Quality Improvement, Impact & Analysis
UCAN

Biography

Tina Ruiz

Vice President of Quality Improvement, Impact & Analysis
UCAN

Tina Ruiz is a mission-driven senior leader with more than two decades of experience advancing outcomes for children, families, and communities through strategic leadership, data-informed decision-making, and organizational improvement. As Vice President of Quality Improvement, Impact, and Analysis at UCAN, she leads agency-wide efforts to strengthen performance management, reduce risk, and demonstrate impact across child welfare, behavioral health, and community-based programs.

Tina is recognized for building systems that translate data into strategy, helping executive leadership and boards make informed decisions that improve programs.

effectiveness and long-term organizational sustainability. Her collaborative leadership approach brings together frontline staff, cross-functional teams, and governance leaders to embed a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and innovation.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Marshall University and a Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. Tina is passionate about strengthening the leadership capacity of nonprofit organizations to better serve vulnerable communities.

Tara Treglowne

Chief Operating Officer
Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI, Inc.

Biography

Tara Treglowne

Chief Operating Officer
Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI, Inc.

Tara M. Treglowne turns big ideas into everyday impact, where nonprofit purpose meets servant leadership. With more than 25 years of dedicated service, Tara has championed initiatives that strengthen communities and create positive change for individuals facing significant challenges.

Her leadership spans services for children and families, housing, addictions and restorative justice, mental health, crisis services, and long-term care. Partnering with state leaders, Tara pioneered trauma-informed, strength-based care practices for children and youth across Wisconsin. Under her progressive leadership, LSS strategically optimized its statewide substance use disorder treatment network, rightsizing and consolidating services to elevate quality, continuity, and access, while achieving healthy, incremental growth aligned to evolving community needs.

Guided by servant leadership, Tara puts people first, listening deeply, responding with empathy, and ensuring actions strengthen others so they can thrive. Nearly 30,000 individuals and families are served each year, and Tara leads LSS with a team of 850 employees across two states, fostering a culture of belonging.

Holding an EMBA from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and a BA in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Tara remains focused on advancing LSS’s mission and shaping the future of social services—ensuring the organization continues to be a beacon of hope and transformation.

Throughout 2025, Social Current continued its efforts to activate the power of the social sector and effect broader systemic change in support of an equitable society where all people can thrive. In collaboration with our network and partners, we focused on strengthening our influence, our voices, and our impact.

We are grateful to have your support as we continue to strengthen and amplify the work of the social sector to facilitate impact and systemic change through our core solutions and impact areas.

Our 2025 Year in Review features:

• A note from Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson
• Engagement stats for our partnerships and service offerings: COA Accreditation, Impact Partnerships, Consulting, and Knowledge and Insights Center
• Milestones related to our five core integrated impact areas
• The launch of the Five & Rising initiative
• Highlights of SPARK 2025

Download the full report.

Social Current has launched a brief national survey on challenges impacting child welfare providers. The information shared will help inform recommendations for system improvements, policy advocacy, and sustainable models of care that better support children, families, and organizations. 

Multiple staff from organizations may complete the survey, including: 

• Program directors and managers  
• Supervisors 
• Front-line staff 

Take the survey online by April 23. It should take about 10 minutes to complete.  

Insight from this survey will support the work of Five & Rising pilot community Progressive Life Center (PLC)  to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of foster care and the broader continuum of family services. The organization looks to inform their efforts with national data on the experiences of staff delivering services every day.  

Five & Rising is a Social Current initiative designed to spark bold, community-driven solutions that reimagine the social sector. 

Social Current is honored to celebrate National Social Work Month and to share our gratitude for social workers and their extraordinary legacy of service.

As a social worker, I believe the 2026 theme designated by the National Association of Social Workers reflects our sector’s core mission: Uplift. Defend. Transform. Serving and empowering communities with bravery, compassion, and integrity has been foundational to social work since its inception.

Social workers’ steadfast commitment to the profession’s values and vision has helped to foster a more equitable and just society, achieving critical progress in civil rights, health care access, and mental health care. Sustained, purposeful advocacy and service have helped embed a culture of dignity and respect that community leaders continue to advance.

Fear and Courage

The efforts of social workers have often arrived during uncertain, challenging, and divisive periods of our nation’s history. Rather than standing as an exception, our current reality mirrors ongoing historical struggles and the resurgence of harmful narratives.

We are seeing concerning trends of discrimination toward marginalized populations, including immigrants, communities impacted by racial and ethnic inequities, and transgender individuals. Rising tides of nativism and xenophobia have translated into policies that are endangering the safety of immigrants, restricting their access to health care and housing, and creating barriers for refugees and asylees to seek shelter within the U.S.

In addition, health care access has further been strained by the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, reductions in Medicaid funding, and increased enrollment barriers. Judicial rulings and federal actions have significantly reduced access to gender-affirming care as discrimination toward transgender individuals has steadily continued to grow.

The challenges communities are facing arrive as millions of Americans experience rising mental health concerns and difficulty accessing mental health care. Meanwhile, shifting grant requirements, funding freezes, and cancellations are challenging the social sector’s ability to serve its communities.

Surrounded by risk and uncertainty, organizational and community leaders are facing critical challenges, leading many to wonder about the path ahead. However, amid incredible strife, we have also seen a period of incredible strength and courage.

Uplift. Defend. Transform.

For many Americans, sadness and fear have become constant undercurrents as they witness the hardships their neighbors have experienced. But, despite this profound sadness and fear, the past year has also been marked by incredible compassion, hope, and healing, as social workers reaffirm their commitment to service.

Social workers have remained steadfast in serving those in need while striving to honor the profession’s Code of Ethics through a sustained commitment to justice and equity. The determination to uplift, defend, and transform the lives of individuals, their families, and their communities illuminates a powerful vision for a more equitable and kind society.

Through direct practice, research and evaluation, advocacy, and education, social workers have empowered vulnerable and marginalized populations, supported communities through periods of hardship, and worked to eliminate barriers that perpetuate harm.

Social workers’ leadership and service are visible in every corner of our communities, from health care facilities, schools, and child welfare agencies to the judicial system and federal, state, and local governments. Their compassion, service, and advocacy offer a powerful glimpse of the care, integrity, and competence needed to enhance individual and societal well-being.

Envisioning Our Future   

Social workers offer a powerful example of communities’ inherent power, especially during periods of growing fear and uncertainty when advocacy may seem out of reach. Their legacy of service reminds us of our innate power to enact lasting, positive change, even when advocacy arrives in unexpected forms.

In times of hardship and uncertainty, it is essential to continuously root ourselves in our values and hopes, and to collaboratively strive for a future that supports our collective well-being. National Social Work Month invites an opportunity to reflect on, learn from, and continue the legacy of social workers. As we celebrate their storied achievements, we invite individuals to continue social workers’ commitment to service and share in their mission to uplift, defend, and positively transform our communities.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on social media about how social workers are making a difference in your community, visit the NASW website for tips, sample language, recommended hashtags, and logos.

To connect with like-minded advocates in support of policies that strengthen families and communities, I invite you to join the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network. By joining this free group, you’ll receive information about opportunities for training, peer-to-peer learning, and mobilization around pressing policy issues.

Social Current’s Five & Rising campaign recently convened nonprofit leaders for the learning session, “Turning Organizational Dilemmas into Opportunities,” facilitated by Dana Kawaoka-Chen, co-executive director of Justice Funders. The organization seeks to transform philanthropy through narrative change, capacity building, collective action, and movement leadership. Leaders from Five & Rising pilot communities ChangeMakers (Hawai’i), Progressive Life Center (Maryland), and the Center for Community Impact (Ohio) gathered for a candid conversation about what today’s organizational tensions can reveal—and how they can be used to drive clearer, values-aligned decisions. 

Funding models, governance structures, and growth strategies all reflect choices about power and values. When those choices fall out of alignment with mission, friction appears. Seen through this lens, tension isn’t a failure—it’s information. The work, as Dana suggested, is not to eliminate tension, but to learn from it. 

To ground this perspective, Dana shared Justice Funders’ own evolution as a case study.  Early on, the organization faced a core contradiction. A business model centered on membership dues conflicted with its commitment to movement alignment and creating transformation within philanthropy, even as demand for its work continued to grow. 

Justice Funders approached these tensions as connected choice points. Over time, the organization clarified what it wanted to center, reexamined how it generated revenue, and redesigned leadership and governance to better reflect its values. Rather than scaling first, Justice Funders prioritized clarity and alignment. Growth followed, but only after the organization reshaped its structure to match its purpose.  

In the session, Dana also highlighted how this lens applies across systems, sharing an example from Contra Costa County. There, nonprofits, funders, and the county public defender formed Stand Together Contra Costa, a public-private partnership designed to respond collectively to urgent immigration-related needs when existing systems fell short. The partnership emerged not from a predefined blueprint, but from recognizing the existing structures were not built to meet the moment.  

The takeaway was not about replicating a model, but about recognizing when collective action and new structures are required to meet changing conditions. 

Rather than ending with prescriptions, the session centered reflection. Participants were invited to name a “good problem” their organization is facing and consider how addressing it could unlock greater impact or alignment. That exercise shifted attention from managing constraints to interrogating design. 

For leaders working in community-rooted organizations, this reframing helped shift the conversation away from scarcity and toward possibility. Dilemmas become indicators of growth and change—not something to hide or manage away, but something to approach with curiosity and intention. 

Earlier sessions focused on localizing the Five & Rising message and examining persistent myths about how nonprofit work is valued and funded. This session built on that foundation by exploring how organizations can align funding strategies with the experimentation, collaboration, and systems change today’s challenges demand. 

By creating space for shared learning and honest reflection, Five & Rising helps leaders move beyond isolated problem-solving toward collective sense-making. As the Justice Funders session underscored, progress often starts not with a perfect plan, but with clearer questions and the willingness to redesign systems around what those questions reveal. 

Dana Kawaoka-Chen, Justice Funders’ founding co-executive director, brings deep experience in organizational development and systems change. Her facilitation during this session reflected Justice Funders’ commitment to practical, values-aligned leadership grounded in real-world conditions and possibility. 

Social Current is seeking competitive submissions for its 2026 Innovative Impact Award. Too often great ideas are kept in-house without recognizing their potential to create change beyond the communities where they were born. Social Current’s Innovative Impact Award identifies, documents, and celebrates examples of successful management and service delivery strategies adopted by our network organizations.

The Innovative Impact Award spotlights the efforts of Social Current network organizations—their staff, board, volunteers, and partners—who innovate for good to create lasting change with families and communities.

We invite you to share your effective strategies and serve as a resource for community-based organizations, leaders, researchers, and advocates across the full spectrum of human and social services.

Applications should be submitted online by March 3. Submissions must include a synopsis of your innovative strategy and case study narrative that addresses the evaluation criteria.

Learn More About Past Winners

• 2024: Children & Families First Delaware, which was recognized for its Brain Science Training Institute. Read their guest article, The Business of Healing: How Trauma-Informed Care Revolutionizes Organizational Strategy.
• 2025: LifeWorks, which was recognized for its Travis County Transformation Project. Listen to their interview on their youth pre-arrest diversion program.

Winner Benefits

The 2026 Innovative Impact Award winner will receive national visibility and promotion from both Social Current and participating national associations. The winner will also receive the following benefits:

• Showcase on Social Current’s website, newsletter, and social media platforms
• A 60-minute webinar to share your innovative strategy
• A virtual interview promoting your strategy
• Special award promotion toolkit including image assets, quotes, and sample language to develop your communications and use on your website
• Award plaque

Submission Guidelines

Use our online submission form to submit a synopsis (2,500 character maximum) and case study narrative (five page maximum) about your innovative strategy by March 3, 2026. Your case study narrative should introduce the innovative strategy and how it has contributed toward positive service delivery outcomes and organizational success. In writing your case study narrative, note the award evaluation criteria and consider addressing the following:

• Describe your target population
• Describe your work and the strategy or approaches that make it innovative
• What evidence or results demonstrate its positive impact

When filling out the form, you’ll need to indicate:

• Your organization’s name
• The primary contact for the award submission
• The name of your innovative strategy

Evaluation Criteria

Planning and Presentation (20%)

• Well-written, succinct, and logical presentation of the goals
• Well-designed plan for approach and implementation of the innovative strategy
• Strategy addresses an important problem or issue
• Effective use of all resources in the implementation of the innovative strategy

Performance and Quality Improvement (30%)

• The goals of the improvement activity show measurable results, as documented in program, client, or other positive organizational outcomes
• Statistical data and/or conclusions drawn from qualitative and/or quantitative data are sound and support positive outcomes over a sustained period
• Risk factors or other obstacles associated with the strategy have been identified, and a plan for mitigating them has been developed
• Results can be replicated, and innovative practices can be implemented and integrated into existing systems at other organizations

Innovation (50%)

• Descriptive evidence that the applicant supports creative activities that lead to innovation
• Demonstration that the strategy being highlighted is new and forward thinking as evidenced by a creative, novel, inventive, or original improvement in an area(s) that ultimately provides measurable benefit (i.e., increases in service quality, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, learning, collaboration, timeliness, etc.) to the organization, its workforce, and/or the population targeted for service
• There is reach, depth, and impact of the innovative strategy:
  • On the community, government regulations and/or initiatives, and/or the human services field, in general
  • In addressing an urgent, relevant, or complex need
  • In expanding traditional organizational boundaries

Eligibility Terms and Conditions

Primary applicant must:

• Be currently COA-accredited, undergoing COA Accreditation (in-process) with no major vital occurrences on file, and/or an Impact Partner
• Submit a complete and thorough application form and case study narrative according to the submission guidelines
  • Previously published case studies may be submitted if the applicant has received permission from the award committee for republication; this permission must be documented on the application form
  • Case studies that were submitted for Social Current’s Innovative Impact Award in previous years may only be resubmitted when the associated strategy and/or outcomes have significantly changed
• Agree they have read and understand the following conflict of interest statements:
  • Award applications do not confer, impart, or guarantee positively or negatively on any current or future accreditation decision
  • Applications representing more than one organization need to have the consent of all applicable parties
  • Organizational applicants that permit research with service recipients are in accordance with applicable legal requirements
• Agree that, if selected as award winner, Social Current can promote and distribute the case study narrative in its entirety and recognize the organization and authors in any related marketing promotions

Social Current reserves the right to consider public and organizational record information pertaining to any applicant for the Innovative Impact Award.

Note: Social Current will not accept submissions that are designed to endorse, market, or sell commercial products and/or services.

Apply online by March 3. Contact Social Current with questions.

Scilla Andreen

CEO & Co-Founder
Impactful Networks

Biography

Scilla Andreen

CEO & Co-Founder
Impactful Networks

Scilla Andreen is an award-winning producer and director, Emmy-nominated costume designer, author, and CEO and co-founder of Impactful Networks.

Driven by a passion to support filmmakers and create positive social change through film, Andreen has grown IndieFlix’s library to more than 4,000 titles representing diverse voices, marginalized communities, and women. She also created the RPM (revenue per minute) royalty payment model, which compensates filmmakers for every minute their work is viewed. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, Today, and South China Morning Post.

Andreen has executive produced, directed, and distributed social impact films including Nevertheless, Screenagers, Angst, LIKE, The Upstanders, Empowerment Project, and Finding Kind. She is currently in production on her latest film, RACE. She has been recognized by Screen International’s Multichannel Women to Watch, Variety’s Women’s Impact Report, and Puget Sound Business Journal as a Woman of Influence.

A sought-after speaker, Andreen has appeared at Sundance, Cannes, CES, SXSW, BeBold, and Women in Film. She is also the founder of the IndieFlix Foundation.

Scilla Andreen is on a mission to change the world with film.

Dorri C. McWhorter

President & Chief Executive Officer
Executives’ Club of Chicago

Biography

Dorri C. McWhorter

President & Chief Executive Officer
Executives’ Club of Chicago

Dorri McWhorter is renowned for her leadership in social enterprise. Crain’s Chicago Business has lauded her as a “nonprofit disrupter” who turned around a major organization “by leading as if it’s a startup.” She was inducted into the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame in 2019, and her work to create a new paradigm for the social impact sector is featured in the documentary Uncharitable.

Most recently, McWhorter served as president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Under her leadership, the YMCA modernized its membership offerings and formed strategic partnerships with Nike and Peloton. She also helped bring a new YMCA to Chicago’s West Side as part of a development that includes a wellness center with health care services, a grocery store, and a business incubator.

Previously, McWhorter served as CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, where she transformed the organization from a traditional social service provider into a “21st-century social enterprise.” She added 10 service locations, increased the operating budget by 300%, and established a retirement plan with options for child care providers and small business owners. She also led the development of an exchange-traded fund for women’s empowerment (NYSE: WOMN) in partnership with Impact Shares.

McWhorter is a humanity-centered business leader committed to creating an inclusive marketplace by leveraging a cross-sector approach that engages business, civic, and community partners. Prior to her work in the social enterprise sector, she was a partner at Crowe LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the United States.

McWhorter earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lake Forest College.

Phoenix Ricks

Founder and CEO
Girl Friday

Biography

Phoenix Ricks

Founder and CEO
Girl Friday

Phoenix Ricks is the founder and CEO of Girl Friday, a global affairs firm based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2020, Girl Friday began as a newsletter focused on pressing international issues before expanding into a full-service consultancy.

Previously, Ricks led government relations initiatives for SHEIN in the United States and for PepsiCo across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Before entering the private sector, she directed public diplomacy programs at the U.S. Department of State, worked in water quality monitoring at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and managed policy communications for two human rights nonprofits.

Ricks holds degrees in the sciences, public affairs, and crime writing from Howard University, American University, and the University of Cambridge, respectively.

When she is not working with clients or building new Dear Girl Friday programs, Ricks writes fiction under the pen name Pixie Carlisle.

Nicole York

Director of Human Resources
Pulitzer Center

Biography

Nicole York

Director of Human Resources
Pulitzer Center

Nicole York is the Pulitzer Center’s director of human resources. She is an HR professional with more than 20 years of progressive experience delivering human resources management solutions for for-profit and nonprofit organizations across a range of industries. Her experience includes executive-level management, strategic program management, training and employee development, organizational development, and employee relations in organizations ranging from 25 to 35,000 employees.

Throughout her career, York has managed the full life cycle of human resources and has served on numerous project steering committees, including roles as project lead and functional consultant. She is also an adjunct professor at Prince George’s Community College, where she teaches in the hospitality management department. York has held the Professional in Human Resources certification since 2006 and earned the SHRM-SCP designation in 2015.

York earned a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from CUNY Brooklyn College and a master’s degree in human resources development from Bowie State University. She lives in Bowie, Maryland, with her husband and two children.

To grow the momentum and urgency around Five & Rising, we’re looking to select the second community cohort. Building on the foundation of the first cohort, this group will continue to advance the work and expand the movement by:

• Reframing the narrative of the social sector as the backbone of our shared future and an economic force driving lasting change.  
• Strengthening leadership and building community capacity in advocacy, communications, and organizational resilience. 
• Collaborating across sectors with philanthropy, business, and government to launch solutions designed to last. 
• Building local models to be scaled nationally to show how communities can secure bold funding and shift harmful norms holding the sector back. 

The first step in being considered for the upcoming Five & Rising cohort is to complete this initial application by Jan. 16. All applications will be screened with top prospects notified of next steps in February 2026.

To learn more about Five & Rising, visit the campaign website. Subscribe to receive updates via email and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

The social sector enters Q4 2025 grappling with numerous challenges. The last several quarters have been defined by a mix of financial instability, chronic workforce shortages, and significant policy shifts that have left many organizations struggling to keep pace. However, challenges can also create opportunities for transformation and growth. By embracing innovative strategies and leveraging its collective strength, the sector can forge a more resilient and impactful future.

To help leaders navigate this dynamic reality, this report, compiled by Social Current’s subject matter experts and Knowledge and Insights Center staff, highlights the critical trends at play and our relevant solutions.

• Government affairs and advocacy including the government shutdown
• Leadership including strategic prioritization and essential change management questions
• Philanthropy including corporate giving under pressure and proactive strategies
• Workforce resilience including trauma-informed solutions
• Child and family well-being including mandated reporter reform
• COA Accreditation including standards updates to reflect evolving practice guidance and regulations

Download the full trend report for insight and related Social Current solutions.

Specialized Research Tools for Human and Social Services

Social Current’s Knowledge and Insights Center offers a robust resources portal, which includes a digital clearinghouse library with over 20,000 records; aggregated research and business databases; diverse topic collections and library guides; original content summarizing complex information; and coaching that helps users maximize these resources.

As you plan for 2025 and beyond, make sure you’re utilizing all the tools in your toolbox. For more information about available tools and support, visit our website or contact the Knowledge and Insights Center.

Every day, human services professionals and volunteers make important decisions in order to keep children safe and help families reach their full potential. The Quality Improvement Center on Helplines and Hotlines is conducting practical research to understand more about how these decisions are made. We want to hear from you to learn about how to keep children safe, target child protection resources effectively, and ensure all families can thrive.

We invite all mandated reporters and helpline and hotline staff to complete an anonymous survey about your experiences.

The survey deadline is Oct. 24. Respondents will be entered in a drawing to win one of five $50 gift cards.

Select the survey that is most appropriate for your role. All surveys are anonymous and take about 15 minutes to complete.

• Mandated Reporter. For individuals required to report suspected child maltreatment as part of a professional or volunteer role
• CPS Hotline Staff. For those working in any capacity at a child protection hotline
• Helpline Staff. For those working or volunteering at a community-based helpline as a front-line worker, supervisor, or other non-leadership staff
• Helpline Leadership. For those working or volunteering at a community-based helpline at the manager level or above

Please share the survey links widely. If you would like to distribute a printed copy of this information that includes the QR code, download this flier. These are some of the first national surveys of hotline and helpline staff, which means you can make an impact by participating and spreading the word.

Survey results will help the Center make recommendations on policies and practices for better decision making about families and develop new and improved pathways for families to get the help they need.

If you have any questions about a survey or this research project, email the Center.

The Center is administered by Evident Change in partnership with Social Current and the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance as part of a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau.

This project is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,500,000 with 100% funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS or the US Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website Administrative and National Policy Requirements.