Jeane W. Anastas, PhD, LMSW (New York City Chapter), is professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. She received her BLS in social work from Boston University, her MSW from Boston College, and her PhD from Brandeis University.
Active in NASW since 1986, Anastas currently convenes ANSWER, working on the Height/Young Social Work Reinvestment Act, and is a member of the Finance and Workforce Center Advisory Committees. Past national leadership experience includes NCNLI, NCOWI, the IASWR and SSWR boards, and chairpersonship of GADE. Past president of the Massachusetts Chapter, Anastas has been its Social Worker of the Year (1995), a CSWE visiting scholar (2006–2007), recipient of CSWE’s Greatest Recent Contribution to Social Work Education award (2007), and was elected to the National Academies of Practice in Health Care in 2007.
Anastas publishes in the areas of women’s issues, GLBT rights, mental health, and social work education.
NASW has a responsibility to advocate for public policies that advance the profession, create and fund the programs assisting those we serve, and enhance social justice. We must address shortages of skilled social workers serving aging, young, and diverse service users. In the changing landscape of health care financing and social services, social work must do more to demonstrate its value and cost-effectiveness in health, behavioral health, chronic and long-term care, and health promotion and prevention in ways that engage with practitioners. This time of economic crisis and social change can be one of opportunity for us.
NASW must also ensure its own survival through outreach to those who are currently becoming social workers. Enhancing the diversity of professional social workers and in NASW membership is also vital. Creative partnering between national and chapter staff and volunteer leaders will continue to be essential to achieving these goals.
Jeane Anastas, PhD, LMSW
President-Elect
Lynn Videka, BSN, AM, PhD
Professor and Dean
Silver School of Social Work
New York University
New York, NY
Dawn Hall Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW
Assistant Professor
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
Paul H. Stuart, PhD, ACSW, LCSW
Professor and Director, School of Social Work
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Florida International University
Miami, FL
Lawanna R. Barron, LCSW, ACSW (Georgia Chapter), practices with military families to prevent child and spouse abuse. She has worked in the Moody Air Force Base Family Advocacy Program since 1993, currently as family advocacy outreach manager and a collateral duty equal employment opportunity counselor. Barron received her MSW from the University of Georgia in 1991.
Barron has been an active in NASW and other community organizations and boards. She helped to start the South Georgia Unit, served as president of the Georgia Chapter and delegate to the Delegate Assembly, served as Region VI representative to NASW’s Board of Directors, and is a trustee for the NASW Legal Defense Fund. She was honored as Social Worker of the Year in 2003 and has received numerous awards and recognitions from the community and her employer.
Barron’s interests include child abuse, spouse abuse, multiculturalism, ethics, and, recently, achieving balance as a professional social worker.
As the largest professional organization of social workers in the world, NASW must continue to be the leader of our profession. We are seeing enormous changes in our country and across the globe that will significantly affect our future. NASW must be on the forefront, directing these changes through policy development, collaborations, and dialogue with social workers regarding the implications of changes for social work practice. We must use cutting-edge technology to further disseminate information. In addition, we must find more effective ways to build leadership skills and networking abilities within our association so as to connect the emerging and changing generations. As your secretary, I would ensure that all of the functions for this position are completed.
My platform is one of service and commitment to our profession. I want NASW to be here for future generations of social workers as it has been here for all of us.
Lawanna R. Barron, LCSW, ACSW
Secretary
Gary Bailey, MSW, ACSW
Past President, NASW &
Associate Professor
Simmons College, School of Social Work &
Clinical Professor, School of Health Sciences
Boston, MA
David L. Levine, PhD
Professor Emeritus
University of Georgia
School of Social Work
Athens, GA
Philip Lucas, DSW, LICSW, ACSW
Chair, NASW Legal defense Fund
Associate Professor
Howard University
School of Social Work
Washington, DC
Lawrence “Larry” Betcher, LCSW, CADC I (Oregon Chapter), received his MSW degree from Boston University’s School of Social Work and has been a licensed clinical social worker for 14 years. Larry has practiced in a number of clinical settings, including psychiatric hospitals and outpatient mental health clinics. He currently runs the Psychiatric Security Review Board program at Providence Portland Medical Center. Larry has served on the NASW Oregon Chapter Board of Directors and Finance Committee since 2003 and is currently finishing his two-year term as president of the chapter. Recently, he was awarded the 2009 Providence Spirit of Emilie Mission Medal; this distinguished honor is given to outstanding members of Providence Portland Medical Center who inspire others to exemplify the Providence mission. In addition, Larry is a field instructor for the School of Social Work at Portland State University and provides clinical supervision to MSWs working towards licensure.
The most important functions of NASW are to provide services to its members and to advocate on behalf of social workers, our values, and issues important to our clients. As Region XII Representative, I intend to facilitate regular communication between the chapters within our region (Alaska, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) so that we can work together more effectively as a unit within the Association. In addition to e-mail and conference calls, I would like to organize a Region XII summit funded by the national office. I believe that in-person meetings are essential for building effective relationships and for taking action. I also intend to better represent chapters in decision making at the national level and will actively address any communication breakdowns between the national office and chapters. Finally, my larger goal for the Association is to improve recruitment and retention of younger professionals.
Sheryl Brissett Chapman, EdD, ACSW (Metro Washington Chapter), is executive director of the National Center for Children and Families, a comprehensive child and family services agency that provides community-based and residential services focused on victims of domestic violence and child maltreatment, delinquency and youth development, homelessness, and poverty in the national capital region. She earned a doctorate and a master of education degree from Harvard University, Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, after receiving an MSW from the University of Connecticut. She also teaches at Howard University School of Social Work. She has been an active NASW member and has assumed several positions at the national level, including president, Metro DC Chapter and delegate; chair, Legal Defense Fund; member, National Finance Committee; member, and chair, National Continuing Education Committee. Her numerous awards include the 2005 NASW Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2004 Congressional Angel in Adoption Award.
I have spent my entire career addressing issues related to children in poverty, homelessness, juvenile delinquency, child victimization, cross-cultural competency, and so forth. As a Region V representative, I will encourage the national NASW Board of Directors to regain its passionate outlook on attacking the increasing and negative social and fiscal impacts on childhood. I will support the examination of the effects of recent immigration on families and child well-being and, especially in Region V, the development of targeted policies and effective social supports.
Region V has an increasingly diverse demographic profile, and NASW should support social workers in addressing the unevenness of quality life outcomes for our constituents. Consequently, I will seek to focus the board’s attention on the disproportionate AIDS epidemic and other health risks facing African American and Latino communities within the region, while promoting more visibility for the significant contributions that our profession makes in every facet of society.
Yvonne M. Chase, PhD, ACSW, LCSW (Alaska Chapter), is the president and CEO of Denali Family Services, a mental health center for children in Anchorage. She is also an adjunct faculty member of the School of Social Work, University of Alaska Anchorage. Chase holds a BS from Loyola University, an MSW from Howard University, and a doctorate in social work from Norfolk State University.
An NASW member for 25 years, Chases’s positions held include president, Alaska Chapter; member, National Board of Directors (1998–2001); chair, National Committee on Inquiry (2001–2005); and Assurance Services (2005–present).
Chase is also a member of CSWE and IFSW. She has been a guest lecturer at the School of Social Work, Tomsk University, Siberia (2007, 2009); been a presenter at IFSW conferences in Munich, Germany (2004), and Adelaide, Australia (2002); and has represented NASW at the Korea Association of Social Workers, Seoul, Korea (2001).
In every phase of NASW’s history, the Association has pursued a standard of excellence. Each decade brought new issues, challenges, and achievements. The major functions of an association should reflect the priorities and needs of its members. I believe the most important functions of NASW today are to continue to strengthen relationships with chapters, increase the benefits of NASW membership, and continue the coalition building with other organizations in which social workers play a major part.
Chapters are a critical link to our members, and every satisfied NASW member is a positive advertisement for the Association. My goal is to involve and energize current members, pay serious attention to student engagement, and recruit new members. Initiatives in every president’s term influence the Association for years to come. If elected, I will continue the work of former NASW leaders, with an ear to the past and an eye to the future.
Yvonne M. Chase, PhD, ACSW, LCSW
President-Elect
Gary Bailey, MSW, ACSW
Associate Professor
Simmons College, School of Social Work &
Clinical Professor, School of Health Sciences
Boston, MA
Terrie Fritz, MSW, LCSW
Director of Children’s Health Services
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
Oklahoma City, OK
Jesse Harris, PhD, ACSW
Professor
University of Maryland
School of Social Work
Baltimore, MD
W. Mark Clark, ACSW (Arizona Chapter), was recently hailed as a “local hero” by the Tucson Weekly newspaper for leading a successful campaign to prevent Arizona State University (ASU) from closing the Tucson component of its School of Social Work. He is also the 2009 Arizona Chapter Social Worker of the Year.
Clark’s day job is president and CEO of CODAC Behavioral Health Services, Inc., a nonprofit behavioral health agency. He has held leadership positions in community-based human service organizations for more than 30 years.
Clark has been an NASW member since 1984 and served as the Arizona Chapter president. He was the founding chair of the Arizona Chapter’s PACE and has attended three Delegate Assemblies. From 2001 to 2004, he was a member of NASW’s National Financial Coordinating Committee.
Mark received his MSW from ASU, has taught social policy and community practice, and is a field instructor for ASU.
The future presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities for our country. Our social work skills and expertise could not be more needed. If elected, I will ensure that NASW focuses its resources on advocating for our profession and for those we serve. A key strategy continues to be the passage of the Social Work Reinvestment Act.
It is vitally important that NASW operate efficiently. I will see that NASW makes maximum use of new technologies to communicate with and serve all of us.
I will work to strengthen NASW’s political involvement at all levels of government. NASW should aggressively recruit, train, and support social workers and other supporters to seek elected office. Our involvement in the political process must increase.
I am honored to have been nominated for election as Board Representative from Region XI and will work diligently to represent those of us who live here. Thanks for your support.
Carmen Collado, LCSW-R (New York City Chapter) received her MSW from New York University and became an NASW member upon entering the profession in 1989, serving on the NASW Delegate Assembly (2001–2007), as Board Member at Large (2004–2007), and on the NASW Licensing Task Force (2006). Clinical work continues to be a passion for Collado, even as her professional focus is now on advocacy as director of Public Policy/Government Relations and of Immigrant/Latino Services at Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.She is also president of the Hispanic Mental Health Professionals and a board member of Mental Health News. In 2008, Commissioner Michal F. Hogan appointed Collado to the New York Office of Mental Health Children’s Mental Health Workgroup. Collado has been honored to receive awards for Promoting Leadership from the NASW/Puerto Rican Family Institute and for Providing Quality Services to Multicultural Communities from the Queens Borough President’s Office.
If elected, I will promote both unity and diversity in the social work profession. The heart of my work for over 20 years has been collaborations with elected officials, government agencies, nonprofit coalitions, providers, and clients from diverse backgrounds to support the shared goal of ensuring access to mental health and social services for all in need. As an NASW delegate, I co-wrote a policy statement addressing institutional racism and advocated for policy statement amendments that were more inclusive of women, Latinos, immigrants, people of color, and GLBT populations. Now more than ever, social workers need to stand together to preserve services. As the economic downturn results in dwindling financial resources and instability triggers greater need of human services, our greatest strength lies in our commitment to inclusivity. I am eager to forge deeper connections between NASW and the broad network of leaders I have collaborated with, especially younger professionals.
Fran K. Franklin, PhD, MSW, LCSW (Delaware Chapter), has for the past 24 years provided social work services to individuals, families, groups, and communities through a nonprofit social welfare agency in Delaware. Franklin currently serves as a member of the governor-appointed Child Death Review Panel and the Social Work Regulatory Board (Delaware). She has served at the chapter level (Delaware) as president, regional representative, and a member of the Nominations and Leadership Committee. Nationally, Franklin has served on the National Committee for Nominations and Leadership (2005–2008), as chair of the Council of Chapter Presidents (2004–2005), and as a member of the Delegate Assembly Task Force Committee (2003–2005). She has also served as a commissioner for CSWE (1997–2001) and as an adjunct professor at Salisbury University.
Franklin received her BA (1979) from Bennett College and her MSW (1983) and PhD (2005) from the Catholic University of America.
An important function of NASW is to strengthen and advance the profession, practice, and education of social work and social policy. One of the ways to accomplish this is by providing a unified voice about professional social work to our communities and to the world.
In this position of leadership, my direction for the future would be on strengthening the objectives and goals of NASW as those goals relate to chapter membership, the clients we serve, and social policy.
If elected to the Board as Region V Representative, I would focus on reinforcing the connection between our national office and our chapters. In addition, I would focus on strengthening the shared objectives among our chapters so that the unique ideas and contributions of Region V can become concrete activities that support the mission of NASW, which in turn fortifies our members so that our clients can be better served.
Marjorie Brittain Hammock, MSW (South Carolina Chapter), has BA and MSW degrees from Howard University. An assistant professor at Benedict College and field coordinator, she provides biopsychosocial assessments as a social work expert in death penalty cases. Her 50 years of social work practice experience includes clinical work with children, families, and communities. Hammock was chief of social work services in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. A Gold Card member of NASW, she has served on the national board and national committees and is a former executive director and president of the South Carolina Chapter. Currently, Hammock chairs the chapter’s PACE committee. She is an NASW Social Work Pioneer and was profiled as an exemplar in Celebrating Social Work: Faces and Voices of the Formative Years (CSWE Press). Hammock is a member of NABSW, BPD, and CSWE and is appointed to the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners.
The critical function of NASW continues to be the development and promotion of national and local social welfare policy on behalf of the populations social work serves. Simultaneously, the Association’s roles in addressing social justice issues, championing initiatives like health care reform and comprehensive welfare programs, and supporting the Social Work Reinvestment Act are paramount.
During the term of office, my focus will be to identify potential social work candidates (emphasis on the Southeast Region) who are committed to the mission of the Association and are willing to articulate a social justice agenda, advocate a progressive program, and communicate significant information to the social work and at-large communities.
I will continue to use my professional, community, and political associations to advocate for those issues that influence the direction of NASW and the social work professions, keeping class, culture, gender, and race issues at the forefront of social welfare development.
Enyonam Hargett (New York City Chapter), is a graduate student in Columbia University’s School of Social Work. Currently, she is serving an internship at the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale (Bronx, NY). Hargett received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in African and African-American studies. Subsequently, she earned a dual master’s degree in African Diaspora studies and public administration from Indiana University Bloomington. Following graduation, Hargett worked in Washington, DC, as a Capital City Fellow within various DC government agencies. A current member of the NASW New York City Chapter, she is also a member of New York Cares, an active volunteer and philanthropic nonprofit organization in New York City. Presently, Hargett works with the Food Kitchen of St. Francis Xavier Church, which provides hot meals to homeless and elderly individuals.
I am very honored and grateful to be considered for the student member position for the Board of Directors of NASW. I believe that the most critical function of NASW is to provide professional support for new and advancing professionals in the social work field. As the student member of the Board of Directors, I will assume the large responsibility of representing the diverse perspectives of matriculating graduate students. Through collaborative work, I expect to advocate for and provide analysis on the range of issues that concern current students and new graduates of MSW programs. I will use my leadership position to provide innovative ideas to be considered when decisions are made within the deliberative body. Thank you for your support in this election, and I look forward to serving as a voice for graduate students on the Board of Directors.
Michie N. Hesselbrock, PhD, LCSW (Connecticut Chapter), is professor emeritus, University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Social Work and works on an NIH study of alcoholism and related mental health conditions at the UConn School of Medicine. She received her MSW from the University of Texas (Arlington) and PhD in social work from Washington University, St. Louis. Hesselbrock has served NASW’s Connecticut Chapter as a member of the board, executive committee, and delegate assembly and as vice president and president. At the national level, she has served NASW on a steering committee (ATOD section) and several task forces. Hesselbrock practiced social work for several years and taught in and directed MSW and PhD social work programs for more than 22 years. Currently, she is a member of the Commission on Aging (Canton, CT) and the Board of Directors of the Hartford Dispensary and also continues serving on NIH study sections.
As social work’s professional society, NASW provides the primary source of support and advocacy for its members and promotes activities and legislation to advance the profession while advocating for our clients and underserved populations. NASW is an important and influential resource, directing new developments in the practice field and incorporating these innovations into both MSW and BSW curricula. If elected, I will contribute to the policies and programs of NASW and help strengthen the organization by using my experiences as a social work educator, practitioner, and researcher. I will continue to work to strengthen and advance our profession through advocacy, education, and research. Building on my board experience, I will help expand the profession into new areas in which the social workers can take leadership roles and make significant contributions. I will also continue to search for new ways to improve and expand social work practice, education, and research opportunities.
Christine N. Langworthy, MSW (Hawaii Chapter), is currently a tenured faculty member (assistant director of practicum) in the University of Hawai`i’s Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work. She completed her MSW degree at the University of Hawai`i after attending the University of Michigan for her foundation year. She received her BA in social work from Michigan State University.
Langworthy has been an active member of NASW since 1973 and has been elected three times to serve at the Hawai`i Chapter level in three different positions: (1) chair of the Nominations Committee (2003–2005), (2) board member-at-large and Executive Committee Board of Directors member (2007–2009), and (3) chapter vice president (2009–present).
Langworthy received a special salary adjustment on the basis of merit in 2002, was promoted from the rank of junior to assistant specialist in 2006, and was granted tenure at the University of Hawai`i in 2008.
In my view, the most important function of NASW is to advocate on behalf of the profession, which is not well represented or understood by others, and to advocate for individual social workers who practice with client systems at all levels in diverse settings.
I would promote the function of advocacy in the Association by developing leadership training that works for social change to make things better across all levels of society. From this perspective, social work touches all people. I would also promote standards of social work practice that benefit individual social workers and support the profession’s core values.
If NASW as a professional association is going to remain vital, it must become more compelling and relevant to the social work community. I hope to influence the direction of NASW by promoting a stronger identity for social work and awareness of the vital role it plays in today’s world.
Jan H. Ligon, PhD, MSW (Georgia Chapter), has been an active member of NASW for over 20 years. Following completion of his MSW at the University of Georgia in 1988, he was employed in Georgia’s public sector mental health system. Since completing his PhD in social work at the University of Georgia in 1998, he has held faculty positions at the University of South Carolina and Georgia State University, focusing on teaching and research in behavioral health. He is a past-president of the Georgia Chapter and the 2002 recipient of the chapter’s Social Worker of the Year award. He is a current member of Georgia’s social work licensure board and conducts frequent workshops on resolving ethical dilemmas in social work practice. He is presently involved in a state-level initiative to improve the recruitment and retention of social workers in Georgia’s system of mental health and substance abuse services.
As the largest number of people in recent history face serious economic challenges, uncertainties in employment and access to healthcare, and concerns about the well-being of their families, social work becomes increasingly apparent as an essential profession to value and support in our communities. Our struggle is awareness; therefore, our continuing challenge is to enlighten the public about our important work. Our efforts through NASW cannot be effective without leaders in the organization who are committed, relevant, diverse, and sincere. If elected as the NCNLI Representative for Region VI, I will challenge our social workers to step up and help educate our communities about the importance of social work. It is essential that we include our students and new social workers in these efforts and that we use the most current communications and media options (including technologies) to get our message to the public.
Randy H. Magen, PhD, MSSW, ACSW (Alaska Chapter), is professor and MSW coordinator at the University of Alaska Anchorage, School of Social Work. His social work degrees are from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
He has been active in NASW since 1985. He has held positions on the Alaska Chapter Board of Directors, including vice president and president. He was a representative to the 2005 Social Work Congress and the 2006 Delegate Assembly.
He is also a member of the Society for Social Work and Research and the Council on Social Work Education.
He has published in the areas of group work and domestic violence. In the winter of 2009, he was awarded a Lady Davis Fellowship to Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.
NASW should continue to be the primary source for promotion and support of the social work profession. NASW should serve its members and the community at the local, state, and national levels.
The leadership of NASW must reflect the social work profession and the community. NASW leadership must be diverse in race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, as well as political perspective and geographic location.
As a member of the NCNLI, I will work to further diversity and to conduct elections where nominations and balloting are transparent and fair.
I believe my colleagues would characterize me as a person who speaks his mind; perhaps they would even call me blunt. I value ethical behavior and humility. These characteristics, along with a dedication to the profession of social work, will guide me in my work for NASW, whether or not I am elected to the NCNLI.
Robin Sakina Mama, PhD, MSW (New Jersey Chapter), is dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey. She received her master of social service, master of law and social policy, and PhD in social work and social research from Bryn Mawr College.
For 10 years she worked at the Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health, where she was responsible for providing technical assistance to unions on workers compensation, contract language for health and safety, and right-to-know information.
At Monmouth, she teaches in the International and Community Development concentration of the MSW program. She has been a member of NASW-NJ for over 15 years and is a past chair of the International Committee of NASW. She represents the International Federation of Social Workers at the United Nations and serves on the Editorial Board of Social Work Education: The International Journal.
NASW is our professional organization and, as such, should represent all facets of social work—the varied work that we do, from the micro through the mezzo to the macro. Our work should be represented well to the public, to Congress, and to other professional agencies. Good representation means that we are defining our public image and working to change the misperceptions about social work. As a member at large of the board, I would be working on behalf of all social workers to represent them well, to listen to the concerns that they bring to the board, and to be the “eyes and ears” of what society says about social workers and bring these concerns to the board. It would be my responsibility to challenge NASW to look beyond where it is and how it operates now and see where it can be innovative in the future.
Jun Matsuyoshi, LCSW (New York City Chapter), since earning an MSW from New York University in 1988, Ms. Matsuyoshi has worked in hospitals and agencies with unique service opportunities. Currently, she is the Director of Recovery and Rehabilitation Services at Project Hospitality, Inc., where she oversees housing and mental health programs. She holds a BA in English and a secondary teaching credential from the University of Redlands (California). In addition to writing about ethnocultural issues in substance abuse treatment, she has given presentations on mental health and HIV/AIDS issues. From 2004 to 2006 she served two terms as chair of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification, NASW New York City. That experience helped her understand the importance of finding good social work leaders.
NASW is the voice of social workers, who make their life’s work advocating for the homeless, the hungry, and the hopeless. National NASW spreads the message of social work on the national and global stage, telling people who we are, what we do, and how we put our values into action. Just as I have done as chair of the NASW NYC Nominations Committee, I will seek out, engage, and nominate leaders who will fight for those whose voices are not always heard. I will use my leadership position to prepare emerging social work leaders to carry the torch through the 21st century and beyond.
Janet K. Melcher, MSW (Ohio Chapter), is the BSW field coordinator for the University of Cincinnati School of Social Work (UCSSW). As field coordinator, she arranges field placements for BSW students, follows the progress of both BSW and MSW individual student placements, and provides continuing education for field instructors. Also, she manages the school’s Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Program. Melcher is working toward a doctorate in social work. In 1993, she served as NASW-Ohio Chapter 12th Annual Statewide Conference Program co-chair and in 2001 as the Annual Statewide Conference co-chair. In the 1990s, she held offices in the local Clinical Social Work Society chapter. Currently, she volunteers for Society for Spirituality and Social Work tasks. Her UCSSW work requires communication with social workers from most fields of practice.
In my community, I am seeing some social workers lose jobs through layoffs, while others pick up extra duty to compensate for staff shortages. I am deeply concerned about those who have no job and those who may be overburdened with unmanageable work demands. At the national level, NASW’s commitment to effect key policies through advocacy seems crucial for supporting these social work professionals and the clients we all serve. For instance, health care reform will benefit everyone, and student loan forgiveness for social work graduates helps to sustain the practicing social worker. The national organization’s backing of the local chapters’ advocacy, education, and networking functions is essential, too. As a National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification member, I will collaborate with regional NASW chapters to identify talented leaders who can address large-scale issues while also being mindful of the need to structure support for local concerns.
Jacquelyn J. Nash, MSW, LCSW (Florida Chapter), retired in 2006 from the state of Florida, with 32 ½ years of service in mental health and last employed as the Northeast Florida Regional HIV/AIDS prevention coordinator. She received her BS degree in sociology from Edward Waters College and her MSW degree from Florida State University. She has held the following positions in NASW: local unit chair, president, vice president, and secretary and treasurer on state board. She is a four-term Delegate Assembly (DA) delegate, and she served on the DA Committee for the first online DA. She received the 12 Who Cares award, the Nelson Mandela Award, and the EVE finalist, for work with HIV locally and aboard. She is still active in NASW. She serves on the following: the Board of Library Foundation, Library Friends Group, Minority AIDS Coalition, The Women Center, Inter-faith-based Advisory Group, and Ryan White Council.
The most important function of NASW is to serve our members, and my role would be to make our needs known; therefore, I must be aware of the concerns and needs of the membership and the people we serve. My focus as Region VI representative is to serve my constituents and to work with other regional representatives and the national board to develop a national plan that will address our local, national, and global concerns. My role as a regional representative will be to think and act globally, to develop a plan that will address our needs beyond the 21st century in this ever changing society. My goal is to be a servant leader with the tenacity of a bull dog and the heart of a lamb.
Sarah Petela (Connecticut Chapter), attends the MSW program at the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, majoring in policy practice. Her internship involves doing constituent services in the district office of Congressman Christopher Murphy. After earning a BS in communications from Cornell University, she worked in nonprofit organizations assisting people affected by domestic violence and mental health disabilities. In 2008 she received the Advocacy Leader of the Year Award from the Keep the Promise Coalition, a statewide group for mental health advocacy; her work encompassed empowering individuals with mental illness to tell their stories to policymakers, including creating a video that appeared on television. She is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Keep the Promise Coalition, and she is a leader in the UCONN Student Organization.
I believe the most important function of NASW is advocating on state and national levels for policies that promote social justice and improve conditions for individuals, families, and communities. As MSW student representative, I will work to recruit more student members through social networking and other outreach methods, and I will offer students more opportunities to advocate for disenfranchised populations. As liaison between student members and the national board, I will encourage an ongoing and productive dialogue to keep student members involved in NASW and will keep the association informed about students’ interests and needs. Encouraging students to become involved in the legislative process and be active in NASW programs will not only lead to more effective advocacy for those in need, but also serve to enhance the influence of the organization on the practice of social work in the future.
Anna M. Scheyett, PhD, MSW, LCSW (North Carolina Chapter), is associate dean at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. She received her PhD in social work from Memorial University and her MSW from UNC. Her major area of interest, both clinically and in research and teaching, is working with adults with serious mental illnesses.
Anna has been active in NASW for 25 years; she served on the NASW NC Board as member-at-large, secretary, chair of the Social Work/Criminal Justice practice unit, member of the Legislative Committee, and president. Anna is also involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Society for Social Work and Research. In 2005 Anna received a NC Heroes in the Fight award for community mental health advocacy, and in 2007 she was named NC Social Worker of the Year.
NASW’s most important function is creating a national context wherein social work can fulfill its mission. NASW does this through public education, shaping policy supportive of social work action, providing social work informational/educational resources, advocating for its members, and creating a network of experienced and new professionals working together to address society’s challenges.
To promote this function, during my term I would focus on developing innovative ways to educate the public about our profession; growing NASW’s membership and, using my experience in education, developing strategies to mentor young social workers; and strengthening the communication/collaboration networks among social workers, chapter leadership, and the national board, particularly (given my role) in Region VI. Through my position I would hope to influence the future direction of NASW such that we have a systematic investment in young leaders, and greater collaborative sharing of ideas and resources among chapters in the regions.
Josephine P. Tittsworth, LMSW (Texas Chapter), retired from IBM after 30 years of service. She is in the PhD program at the Graduate College of Social Work University of Houston (UH). She received her BSW (2006) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and her MSW (2007) at the GCSW-UH. In 2005 she served on the NASW-TX Board of Directors as the BSW representative. She chairs the NASW-TX Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Equity Committee and is a member of the NASW LGBT Issues Committee. For seven years she served on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Second Self, Inc (TRIESS) as director of Chapter Networking and Support; she chaired the Houston Transgender Unity Committee for five years; she is on the Board of Directors of the following nonprofit organizations: National Transgender Advocacy Coalition and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian And Gays-Transgender Network (West Sector Coordinator).
NASW’s most important function is to support the social work profession and those the profession serves. During my term, I will support efforts to help social workers reduce their educational debts, to increase incomes and benefits to reflect the value of a social worker’s professional status, and to advocate for improved resources for the underserved and oppressed populations. I will work with the Region XI chapters and the national board to help increase membership. I will work with the four state regions (Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona) as a liaison between the chapters and national board. I will assist chapters in working with their legislative advocacy missions. I hope to cultivate an understanding of the traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups by encouraging increased education on these populations. Over time an understanding of these groups will increase the effectiveness of our profession and expand our potential service areas.
Victor Voth, LCSW, DCSW (Hawaii Chapter), works within the rich diversity of Region XII as a care manager for former military personnel and their families. He received his BA degrees in business and literature from the University of Washington and his MSW from the University of Hawaii. He has 30 years of social work experience in Hawaii as an administrator and therapist.
Peace Corps service and directing a language school in Japan further augmented invaluable community organization and cultural competency skills.
His commitment to advocacy and alliance building is reflected in his 10 years of service as chair of PACE, Hawaii Chapter. His special honors include Outstanding Service for work with those with late-stage AIDS; Outstanding Leadership from NASW-Hawaii for work with PACE; City Council commendation for coordinating the Vietnam Memorial Wall’s visit to Hawaii; and NASW-Hawaii’s Social Worker of the Year in Mental Health.
These extraordinary times bring extraordinary opportunities for our social work profession. NASW’s critical task is to provide the national leadership necessary in reshaping a progressive dialogue that proposes solutions and honors the creative voices of our membership and the many populations we serve.
As Region XII representative to the board, I will strive to develop strategies that ensure long-term financial sustainability throughout our association; engage in membership expansion focusing on diversity and our newly graduated colleagues; be a dependable conduit of communication between NASW and social workers throughout Region XII; and continue to advocate for the NASW agenda.
Ultimately, I believe NASW needs to achieve new levels of recruitment, retention, and reinvestment in the social work profession as crucial means for realizing health care reform, revitalizing communities, stabilizing the family unit, and defining through social justice a new-found sense of empowerment and hope on the part of all peoples.
Willie “Bo” Walker, ACSW, LCSW, DCSW (Tennessee Chapter), is chief operating officer of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has a BA degree in sociology from Warren Wilson College and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1994). He has an MSSW from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has held NASW leadership positions at the local (branch chairperson), state (chapter president), and national (vice president and National Ethics Committee-alternate) levels. He has participated in five Delegate Assemblies and the 2005 Social Work Congress. He is involved in numerous community and fraternal organizations, including 100 Black Men of America, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Boy Scouts of America. His special honors include NASW-TN Lifetime Achievement Award (2006) and Social Worker of the Year (1992); the 1994 Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award, from the National Mental Health Association; and the TCSW Professional Advocate of the Year (2005).
NASW is the life blood of the social work profession providing nurture, support, accountability, and professionalism. NASW’s most important function is to ensure attainment of the goals so adequately outlined in the Social Work Reinvestment Initiative—to address workforce challenges through recruitment and retention strategies, to reinforce the efficacy of the profession through research, and to ensure its survival through reinvestment of resources. During my term of office, I will devote my energies and diverse experiences to aggressively promoting these goals and engaging in strategic partnerships to secure buy in and support from social workers and the general public. I have a proven track record through my involvement in Delegate Assembly, the 2005 Social Work Congress, and prior service on the NASW Board as vice president. I am committed to using all resources at my disposal to advance the profession of social work.
Brenda R. Ward, MSW, LCSW, MS (Wisconsin Chapter), retired from Milwaukee Public Schools as director of school social work services after 30 years of service. She has worked as an adjunct instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, where she received her MSW and continues to serve as a consultant. She has also worked as a psychotherapist and mental health project manager. A member of NASW since 1986, Ms. Ward is president of NASW-WI chapter. She served as president of the Wisconsin School Social Work Association and as an NASW delegate in 1996, 1998, and 2008. She also served on the School Social Work Specialty Practice Section for two terms. She is a charter board member of School Social Work of America.
She was named 1997 Distinguished Social Worker of the Year, NASW, WI Chapter, and MPS School Social Worker of the Year 1986.
Our greatest challenge is not just to survive as an organization, but to be in the forefront in bringing about solutions to the challenges of the day. It will take creativity and perseverance to continue to bring in new members and retain our current members. I am committed to working with board members, staff, and members to bring about change and retain what is working. I bring to the table many years of leadership and social work experience. What works is to bring stakeholders together to work collaboratively to identify the obstacles to success and come up with solutions. It takes mutual respect, a vision, and a belief that together we can accomplish whatever we choose to do despite adversity. My goal has always been to make sure that wherever I have served I have left it in a better place than I found it.
Brenda R. Ward, MSW, LCSW, MS
Secretary
Rosalie Migas, MSSW, ACSW, LCSW
Director of Services, Domestic Abuse, Abuse Intervention Services
Madison, WI
Donna Ulteig, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Clinical Social Worker
Madison, WI
Elvira Craig DeSilva, DSW, ACSW
Associate Dean
Waukesha County Technical College
Waukesha, WI