The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) Honors Joel M. Levy, DSW with the 2003 Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award

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Washington--The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) is pleased to name Joel M. Levy, DSW, as the recipient of the Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award for 2003. The Knee/Wittman Awards recognize individuals who are models of excellence and have made significant contributions in the field of health and mental health. The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented to an individual or group that has made a significant impact on national mental health public policy, professional standards, or program models.

It is a great honor to receive this award. Today, it is most gratifying for me to see that so many individuals who were once uprooted from their communities, separated from their families, and living deprived of hope and in isolation are now leading productive, happy, dignified lives within their communities, says Dr. Levy. I hope that my advocacy over the last few decades and the programs I helped create have had an impact in prompting government, professional organizations, and colleges and universities to address the needs of people with disabilities.

Dr. Levy has been a national leader in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD). In his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Young Adult Institute/National Institute for People with Disabilities (YAI/NIPD)a network of seven agencies providing over 300 programs with more than 4,000 staff to nearly 20,000 people of all ages with developmental, learning, and physical disabilities, and mental health challengesDr. Levy created an overall system to provide essential services. This system has elevated the quality of administration and clinical standards in the field of developmental disabilities.

Under the direction of Dr. Levy, YAI/NIPD was the first agency to submit a proposal for a community residence in New York City and the second agency to open a residence. Currently, YAI operates more than 75 small residential programs throughout the city. Dr. Levy has helped develop many programs for people with disabilities, among them early childhood programs, family support, day treatment and habilitation, supportive employment, residential living, camping and recreation, and an extensive primary and specialty care medical practice, Premier HealthCare.

I am thrilled to recognize Dr. Levy for his contributions to the complex world of health and mental health care for people with disabilities. His contributions extend much further than the scope of the social work profession, says Ruth Knee, ACSW.

For more information about the Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement Awards, please go to http://www.naswfoundation.org/events/knee.html

To interview Dr. Levy, journalists may contact the NASW Communications Office at 202-336-8228 or at media@naswdc.org.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 145,000 members. It promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families and communities through advocacy.