Thank you to all the participants who nominated themselves or another caregiver for an award!
The judges selected the winners, who received their awards at the Awards Event on March 20, 2026.
The Award Winners for 2026
IHSS Provider of the Year: Maria Elizabeth Salas de Lemus
Family Caregiver of the Year: Deidra Gossett
Nursing Home Worker of the Year: Quaniko Franklin
California Assemblymember Matt Haney won the “Spirit of CCA” Award
View his acceptance speech on YouTube.
Speakers at the Awards Event included CCA President and CEO Corinne Eldridge, CCA Chief Programs Officer Sabrina Ullah, and KTLA TV Channel 5 Reporter Wendy Burch, who served as event emcee. The award trophies were presented to the winners by Sergio Donis of SEIU Local 2015, and Edith Gong of the Santa Clara Public Authority and California Association of Public Authorities (CAPA).
About the California Caregiver of the Year Awards by CCA
There are nearly five million caregivers in California. These awards recognize outstanding caregivers across the state who demonstrate exceptional skills, knowledge, and commitment to providing quality, person-centered care. Awards will be given to one winner in each category.
IHSS Provider
of the Year
This award goes to a paid In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider who cares for an IHSS member.
Family Caregiver
of the Year
This award goes to an unpaid caregiver who provides in-home care to their family member.
Nursing Home Worker
of the Year
This award goes to a skilled nursing home worker who completed CNA or LVN training.
Nomations were open November 17, 2025 – January 30, 2026.
Instructions: Clicking the “submit entry” button will take you to another website, where you will be asked to register an account at AwardForce.com so you can fill out an entry form. Entry forms are available in English, Armenian, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Award winners are:
- Selected by a panel of judges who are leaders in the caregiver industry
- Awarded a $2,000 cash prize, received when they attend the awards event on March 20, 2026.
- Invited to attend the private awards event, where the finalists in each category will be announced
- Eligible to receive a stipend for travel expenses to attend the awards event in Los Angeles, CA
- Announced by CCA via a press release, our website, social media, and other marketing channels
Eligibility:
- Must be a resident of California
- For IHSS Provider of the Year and Family Caregiver of the Year: Must be currently providing care or have provided care within the past year for a California resident
- For Nursing Home Worker of the Year: Must work in a skilled nursing facility in California as a CNA or LVN
- Providers, Caregivers, and Workers can nominate themselves or another caregiver. Caregivers can also be nominated by their care recipients or employers
- Must be able to attend the awards event in Los Angeles on March 20, 2026 to receive their award
- Click here to see the official contest rules and privacy policy
The California Caregiver of the Year Awards are organized and hosted by the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA), which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
To sponsor this event that honors three outstanding caregivers in California, please contact Christine Leahey, Director of Fund Development, CCA: christinel@advancecaregivers.org
Thanks to Our Distinguished Panel of Judges for 2026
- Christina Lockyer, SEIU Local 2015
- Sally Cantwell, PACS Group
- Carly Roman-Woo, Archstone Foundation
- Linnel Walker, CalOES
- Francisco Oaxaca, L.A. Care Health Plan
- Edith Gong, Santa Clara Public Authority & CAPA
- Meygan Maciel, Office of California Assemblymember Avelino Valencia
