Welcome from CAA’s Executive
Director
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
On behalf of the Children’s Advocacy Alliance of Nevada, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book Breakfast and Human Services Network Awards Breakfast.
This annual event brings together passionate advocates, service providers, policymakers, and community leaders who are united in our mission: to improve the well-being of every child in Nevada. The Kids Count Data Book provides us with more than just numbers it offers a critical lens into the lives of our children, revealing where we ’ re making progress and where urgent action is still needed. This data drives our advocacy and helps ensure that children’s voices remain at the forefront of our state’s policy conversations.
We are also honored to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to Nevada’s children and families. The Human Services Network Awards celebrate those who go above and beyond to make a lasting difference in our communities.
Today is a celebration but also a call to action. As you hear the stories, absorb the data, and connect with fellow champions for children, I encourage you to reflect on the role each of us can play in building a healthier, more equitable Nevada for all.
Thank you for being here and thank you for your unwavering commitment to Nevada’s kids.
For Nevada’s children,
Elisa Cafferata Executive Director Children’s Advocacy Alliance of Nevada
About CAA
The Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) is an independent voice for Nevada’s children, advancing systemic change in the areas of early childhood education, children’s health, and child welfare. We work to ensure every child in Nevada has the opportunity to thrive by building consensus around policy priorities and leveraging the strength of our collective voice to create lasting change.
CAA engages in legislative advocacy, champions bills in collaboration with community partners, and elevates the voices of families and advocates in the policymaking process. Our work is rooted in equity and driven by the belief that those most impacted by policy should play a central role in shaping it. We work year-round with coalitions, families, providers, and fellow advocates to improve systems that serve Nevada’s children and families.
Our efforts are focused across three main program areas, our three pillars:
Early Childhood Education and Development
CAA is committed to advancing high-quality early childhood education and care. We recognize the critical importance of the earliest years of life and advocate for investments that support Nevada’s children, families, and early educators. Supported by the Alliance for Early Success and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, CAA leads the Strong Start Prenatal to Three Coalition, convening statewide stakeholders to improve early childhood systems. Through our nationally recognized Child Advocacy Ambassador program, we train and support parents and caregivers to lead local and statewide advocacy efforts rooted in lived experience.
Child and Maternal Health
CAA advocates to ensure all children in Nevada have access to affordable, quality health care, including behavioral and mental health services. We actively worked to support families impacted by the Medicaid “unwinding” process, ensuring eligible children did not lose coverage. As the convener of a statewide coalition for children’s mental health, we are focused on expanding access to providers, strengthening school-based services, and improving insurance coverage for children with behavioral health needs.
Child Welfare and Equitable Access
CAA works to prevent child maltreatment and ensure system-involved youth are supported and heard. We advocate for policies that strengthen families, improve supports for youth in foster care, and promote healing and stability. This includes advancing extended foster care, improving transition services for older youth, supporting youth leadership and civic engagement opportunities, and building comprehensive prevention systems. Our work is guided by the goal of interrupting cycles of trauma and inequity and creating pathways to well-being for all children and families.
Champions for Change: Celebrating Impact, Centering Data
Breakfast Program Welcome
Elisa Cafferata,
Executive Director, Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Acknowledgment of Champions for Change
A Word from Nevada Dignitaries
Presentation: CAA Priorities
Carissa Pearce
Youth Keynote Speaker
Isabella Tran
Human Services Network Awards
Presented by Dr. Jamelle Nance & Annette Dawson Owens
Closing & Thank You
Elisa Cafferata
Featured Speaker Jacky Rosen United States Senator
United States Senator Jacky Rosen is committed to working with both parties to deliver for Nevada’s hardworking families. She is fighting for all Nevadans by being an independent voice who brings people together to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions for our state.
Elected to the U.S. House in 2016 and then the U.S. Senate in 2018, Jacky is the second woman ever to serve Nevada in the U.S. Senate, alongside fellow Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
In the Senate, Jacky is working to improve the lives of all Nevadans and fighting for an economy that gives everyone the opportunity to succeed. She supports pro-worker policies like affordable child care, paid family leave, and equal pay for equal work. And with rising prices stretching families’ budgets to the breaking point, Jacky is pushing to increase access to affordable housing in Nevada, cut taxes for the middle class, and lower costs for everyday essentials.
When it comes to education, Jacky has passed funding to rebuild Nevada’s crumbling and outdated K-12 public schools, fought for better pay for our teachers, and pushed for increased mental health resources for our students.
Youth Keynote Speaker
Isabella Tran Legislative Intern, University of Nevada, Reno
Isabella Tran is passionate about health equity and public policy. As a legislative intern at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health’s Larson Institute, she researched and drafted evidence-based policy briefs on youth mental health legislation, provided public comment in hearings, and engaged directly with state legislators.
Bella coordinated efforts among lawmakers and community groups to help pass two key bills: AB40, which strengthens antidiscrimination protocols in Nevada schools; and AB380, which expands the flexibility and reach of mobile crisis response teams supporting the 988 mental health crisis hotline.
At the Davidson Academy, Bella leads a peer advising service and organizes campus-wide events including Nevada’s Week of Respect. She also captains her school’s debate team and is committed to building inclusive communities through empowering youth voices.
Human Services Network Awards
The Children’s Advocacy Alliance is proud to partner with the Human Services Network to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations who are making a lasting impact in our community These honorees exemplify excellence in advancing human services and improving the lives of Nevada’s children and families.
Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian Award
This award, named after a beloved Nevada governor and philanthropist, recognizes an exemplary individual who has shown exceptional and outstanding interest, concern, and assistance, both personally and professionally, in the area of human services without need for personal gain or recognition. This individual has shown a consistent level of outstanding effort and accomplishment on behalf of the people of Truckee Meadows and beyond.
Agency of the Year
This award honors the superior cooperation, quality of services, and community efforts of a local public or private non-profit agency Selection is based on a demonstrated history of cooperation, communication, assistance, quality services and overall concern for the community as a whole
Administrator of the Year
This award acknowledges an individual in the community who, as an administrator of a public or nonprofit human services agency, has excelled in providing leadership for their agency and the human services.
Elected Official of the Year
This award is given to someone who demonstrates exemplary efforts as a city, county, state or national politician on behalf of human services and is based on demonstrated achievements. This category can include individuals with elected or appointed positions.
Human Services Network Impact Award
This award, previously the ad-hoc “Special Recognition Award”, is for those individuals and agencies who provide essential support to human service organizations but are not easily placed in another category This award might recognize the contributions of outstanding volunteers, individual philanthropists, or for-profit businesses who partner with human service organizations in ways that have an exponential impact on our staff, clients, and communities
Student Volunteer of the Year
This award comes with a $1500 scholarship courtesy of Social Entrepreneurs Inc The award and scholarship are for high school seniors or college students interested in pursuing a career in human services
Human Services Network Awardees
Leann McAllister
Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian Award
Leann "Lee" DiDomenico McAllister is a passionate advocate for children, currently advancing population health with Intermountain Health and community pediatricians. Her deep commitment to pediatric care was ignited in 1999 when she met her husband, Dr. Terence McAllister, whose dream of becoming a pediatrician became their shared passion. Alongside their adopted son, Andrew "Star" Martin McAllister, they champion the health of all children. Lee's diverse career spans marketing, healthcare administration, and practice management.
A Barnard College and University of New Mexico alumna, this Boston native enjoys Las Vegas's vibrant scene from fine dining and live shows to a good poker game. She's truly humbled to accept this award, believing that collective effort is the real win for humanity.
Foster Kinship Agency of the Year
In Nevada, 30,000 children can’t live with their parents due to abuse, neglect, substance use, or other traumas. These children are being raised by courageous grandparents or other family members in an arrangement known as kinship care.
Foster Kinship, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the only organization in Nevada exclusively serving kinship families. Since 2011, the organization has strengthened caregivers’ ability to provide safe, stable, and nurturing homes for more than 24,000 vulnerable children.
With five comprehensive programs, including a federally recognized, evidence-based model, Foster Kinship builds a brighter future for children across Nevada and the relatives who step up to raise them.
Foster Kinship believes children belong with family, and that kinship caregivers deserve the support, tools, and training to raise healthy children who can break generational cycles of abuse and neglect.
Human Services Network Awardees
Julie Lindesmith Administrator of the Year
Julie is a thoughtful and creative advocate for clients. She is collaborative and resourceful in her approaches to meeting the needs of vulnerable clients with a deficit of resources. She shares her time and also supports and encourages her staff to do the same.
Her leadership drives the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (NNAMHS) to have a positive impact within the community, serving Northern Nevadans with severe mental illnesses.
Michael-Ann Lazzarino Administrator of the Year
Michael-Ann Lazzarino is a dedicated professional with over two decades of experience serving children and families in rural Northern Nevada. Her career spans youth development programs, prevention education, strengthening family systems, and early childhood education initiative which consistently demonstrates her commitment to these communities. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Business Administration from the American College of Education.
As Chief Operating Officer of Community Chest Inc., Michael-Ann applies a strength-based approach to her leadership, supporting staff, families, children, and entire communities in their growth. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she values family time with her husband and two amazing children.
Human Services Network Awardees
Heather Goulding, Assemblymember District 27
Elected Official of the Year
As Assemblymember for Nevada Assembly District 27, Ms. Goulding has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public health and the well-being of Nevadans, and AB360 stands as a testament to her dedication, foresight, and effectiveness.
Her consistent advocacy for accessible healthcare, her role in establishing the Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy, and her unwavering support for public education all highlight a legislator deeply committed to improving the lives of her constituents. However, the direct and measurable impact of AB360 on the health and future of Nevada's children makes it a truly standout achievement for 2025.
Taryn Bragg, MD, MS
Human Services Network Impact Award
Dr. Bragg is the only board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon in Nevada, joining Intermountain Health/U of Utah in 2020. Dr. Bragg graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 1996 and magna cum laude from Loyola University SSOM in 2002. She completed her neurosurgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center in 2009 and pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Primary Children’s in 2010.
Dr. Bragg is board certified by the ABNS and ABPNS. At Sunrise Children’s, she is the Medical Director for Pediatric Neurosurgery and provides education for UNLV residents/medical students. Dr. Bragg won the Nevada 2023 Innovator Healthcare Hero Award and received international media coverage for her work regarding brain abscess in children following the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Bragg has also served on the Board for the Discovery Children’s Museum, volunteers for The Animal Foundation, and has hosted international high school exchange students for the last 4 years.
Human Services Network Awardees
Ishika Bhakta
Student Volunteer of the Year
University of Nevada, Reno. She has a B.S. in Public Health and is working on her Master’s in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Administration and Policy. She is proud to say that she is a Health Policy and Data Intern for Children’s Advocacy Alliance and enjoys working towards health policy efforts regarding children in Nevada.
Her long-term goal is to utilize her expertise in health policy and administration to improve access to quality healthcare and drive impactful policy changes in Nevada.
The Student Volunteer of the Year Award is proudly sponsored by Social Entrepreneurs Inc.
WHO WE ARE
Children’s Advocacy Alliance is the convener for organizations, educators, parents, and everyone dedicated to the safety, health, education, and economic well-being of Nevada children and families Our team is comprised of policy experts in these fields to ensure t best results for Nevada’s most vulnerable population and our future.
Elisa Cafferata
Executive Director
Elisa Cafferata is a fourthgeneration Nevadan, an unrepentant #nightowl, champion of change and an experienced advocate. She has decades of policy and program experience advocating for women and children including policy wins for public health, women’s equity, workforce development, and earned paid sick leave
email: elisa.cafferata@caanv.org
Dr. Jamelle Nance
Early Education Policy Director
Jamelle brings vast experiences in the field of Human Services, Education, and Organizational Leadership Jamelle earned a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Child Advocacy Studies and a master’s degree in Administration of Human Services. She wholeheartedly believes that a strong start provides children and families with a solid foundation to build a strong and promising future
email: jamelle.nance@caanv.org
Dr.TaraC.Raines DeputyDirector&Director ofKidsCountInitiatives
Dr Tara C Raines is a licensed psychologist with a history of research promoting equity and access in the areas of education and mental health. She has spent the last decade implementing and supporting a number of grants to improve outcomes for youth at highest risk for mental health disorders. She believes in the value of using data to identify and implement supports for Nevada’s most vulnerable youth.
email: tara.raines@caanv.org
Annette Dawson Owens Community Engagement Manager
Annette serves as the Commun Engagement Director for CAA and works to improve outcomes for Nevada children and families. Her background in education gives her experience in advocating for access to an excellent education for all students as well as supporting those affected by child welfare issues such as foster and kinship care, or impacted by the juvenile justice system. Annette also trains child advocates to navigate systems and engage with elected officials, to secure better outcomes for our children.
email: annette.dawson@caanv.org
CarissaPearce,MPH GovernmentAffairs& HealthPolicyManager
Carissa began her journey with CAA as an intern in 2022, whe her passion for legislative advo blossomed. She supports impactful policy changes to healthcare, early childhood services, economic well-being and the foster care system She earned her master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, from the University of Nevada, Reno. Born and raised in Nevada, Carissa feels a strong drive to make her home a more equitable and accessible place for all who grow their roots in Nevada.
email: carissa.pearce@caanv.org
