Dawne Mitchell, Chief Attorney of The Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice, was honored by the New York State Bar Association with the Howard Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare.

Named after the retired Court of Appeals Judge Howard Levine, the award recognizes excellence in improving New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice system.

“I have been guided by a belief that children are not subjects in a system but individuals with voices, wisdom, hopes, fears and dreams and for that reason I have insisted that we centered them,” Mitchell said in accepting the award. “When we listen to children and honor their humanity, we do more than improve outcomes. We strengthen families, communities, and our collective capacity for justice.”

Mitchell was  honored alongside Christine Sabino Kiesel, a child welfare consultant, who has fought for reforms in New York’s family courts that streamlined the process, provided judicial oversight and reduced delays in adoption cases.

Congratulations to Dawne; learn more about her honor here.