Diana Ming Chan
Diana Ming Chan, who retired in 2000, was a former school
social worker. Concerned when budget cuts brought about by
ballot initiatives resulted in many school social work jobs
being eliminated — meaning they could no longer help
children experiencing barriers to successful achievement and
adjustment — she and her family committed one million
dollars to establish the Learning Springboard Endowment in
the NASW Foundation.
The Learning Springboard Project promotes school social work
in San Francisco, California. Created in 2000, the purpose
of the project is to train professional social workers to work
in the San Francisco school system. The contribution also prompted
the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to agree
to match the half salaries for two master's-level school social
workers in its budget.
In addition to the Learning Springboard contribution, Diana
Chan was a key organizer of a group called Learning Support
Services Advocates. As a result of their efforts the Board
of Education voted to allocate $1.5 million toward half-salaries
for two social workers, 10 additional full time social workers,
and 10 additional nurses in San Francisco public schools. She
believes that social workers should be an integral part of
the school system, and not just relied upon after problems
have occurred.
Chan's dedication to social work has opened doors that were
once closed for many school social workers. She has been a
true advocate for the profession.
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