Every day at CHS, our employees show up for children and families in moments that matter most. Their compassion, flexibility and commitment drive our mission forward—and each year, we take time to celebrate them at our Employee Appreciation event.
The evening brings laughter, connection and recognition. A highlight of the night is the announcement of two special awards, the Employee of the Year and Rising Star.
The Employee of the Year award recognizes an employee with more than two years of service who consistently supports our clients, models our values and makes CHS a better place. We are proud to recognize Sioux Falls Children’s Home Team Coordinator Sarah Crager as the 2025 Employee of the Year. Sarah consistently steps in wherever needed and helps create an environment where people feel valued.
“As they listed the qualities of Employee of the Year, a few names came to mind,” said Sarah. “I looked around the room, hands ready to clap for someone and they said my name. I think my whole table heard me gasp!”
The award came as a complete surprise, especially since Sarah wasn’t sure she would attend the Sioux Falls event. She had just returned from a family vacation earlier that afternoon, but her husband encouraged her to go and enjoy a night with her work friends.
As Sarah was shaking hands with executive team members, another big surprise was hiding behind the stage.
“When I saw my sweet little family walk out behind me, I had to hold back tears,” said Sarah. “My husband and I have raised our three children throughout my career at CHS. I’m reminded every day how precious childhood is. Working here as a mother has made me better for my clients because I understand them from a different perspective.”
Like the Employee of the Year award, the Rising Star recognizes a team member who goes above and beyond in their work and upholds and models our values daily but has only been with CHS less than two years.
This year, that honor goes to Sioux Falls Campus Nurse Casey Steiner, who stood out for stepping up in high-need situations, adjusting her schedule and going above and beyond for children, families and her team.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Rising Star award. I hope I can continue to live up to what this award represents throughout my time at CHS,” said Casey. “I’m excited to keep growing here! This organization is doing important work, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
The 2026 Employee Appreciation event was filled with many pictures, tears, hugs and high-fives. We are grateful for the impact Sarah, Casey and all of our employees have made on our organization, their teams and the clients they serve every day.