Five years ago, we asked a simple question:
What if we created a week dedicated to recognizing the people who rarely seek recognition?
That question became National Forensic Interviewers Week, and today I’m incredibly proud that we’re celebrating our 5th annual recognition of the professionals who help children find their voice during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Every day, forensic interviewers and multidisciplinary team professionals walk into rooms where trust has been broken. They sit with children carrying stories no child should ever have to tell. They create safety where there has been fear. They provide calm in moments of unimaginable chaos. And through extraordinary skill, compassion, and patience, they help children begin a path toward healing while preserving the truth that can bring accountability and justice.
Most people will never see this work.
The interviews happen behind closed doors. The preparation happens long before a child walks into the room. The collaboration with law enforcement, child protection, prosecutors, medical professionals, and advocates happens quietly, without applause.
Yet the impact lasts a lifetime.
At Guardify, we’re privileged to work alongside this community every day. We hear the stories from the field. We hear about the child who finally felt safe enough to speak. We hear about investigations that protected future victims. We hear about families who found hope because someone took the time to listen with compassion and professionalism.
Those stories remind us why we do what we do.
They also remind us that technology is only valuable when it helps extraordinary people accomplish extraordinary work.
This year, we received more than 230 nominations from across the country. Reading them was one of the greatest honors our team experiences each year. Every nomination represented someone who made a profound difference in the life of a child, a family, a colleague, or an entire community.
If we’re being honest, we wish every nominee could receive an award.
The reality is that these four recipients represent hundreds of remarkable professionals whose dedication deserves recognition. To every person who was nominated—and to those who quietly continue doing this work without ever being nominated—please know that your impact is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.
Congratulations to Our 2026 National Award Recipients
Forensic Interviewer of the Year
Rachel McConnell of Homeland Security Investigations was recognized for her exceptional excellence in forensic interviewing. Her work exemplifies the highest standards of the profession, combining technical expertise with extraordinary compassion while creating safe spaces for children to share their experiences.
Child Advocacy Leader
Jessica Francis of Hunt County Children's Advocacy Center received this year's Child Advocacy Leader Award for the leadership she provides both inside and outside her organization. She represents the kind of steady, servant leadership that strengthens teams, supports colleagues, and ultimately improves outcomes for children and families.
Champion for Children
Lynn Scott of the Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers was honored as Champion for Children for her unwavering commitment to advancing child advocacy on a broader scale. Her work continues to create lasting, systemic improvements that benefit children well beyond a single case or community.
Child Advocacy Partner of the Year
Liz Jones of the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services received Child Advocacy Partner of the Year in recognition of her extraordinary partnership across the multidisciplinary team. Her dedication demonstrates that protecting children requires collaboration, trust, and professionals who consistently show up for one another.
Thank You
To every forensic interviewer.
To every family advocate.
To every child protection investigator.
To every prosecutor, law enforcement officer, physician, therapist, and multidisciplinary team member.
Thank you.
The work you do cannot always be measured in statistics or headlines. Often, your greatest successes are the quiet moments when a child feels believed, when a family begins healing, or when justice becomes possible because someone created a space safe enough for the truth to emerge.
From all of us at Guardify, congratulations to this year’s recipients and thank you to every professional who continues to serve children and families with courage, compassion, and excellence.
You inspire us every day, and it is our privilege to support the work you do.
5th Annual Guardify Awards
Learn more about National Forensic Interviewers Week
To learn more about National Forensic Interviewers Week, view this year's recipients, and celebrate these incredible professionals, visit:
