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Hospital Social Worker, Kay Smith, Recognized as the NASW Social Worker of the Year 2003
Washington — The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to name Kay Smith, MSW, as the 2003 Social Worker of the Year. Smith has made an outstanding difference in areas of advocacy for clients, social policy, social work practice, program development, administration, and research, while demonstrating outstanding leadership and contributing to a positive image for the profession.
During her 23-year career as a hospital social worker, Smith has been steadfast in her efforts to serve the disenfranchised in Arizona, demonstrating creativity in the formation of programs to meet client needs. For example, she developed support group meetings for families of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), who spend many hours in the hospital waiting room hoping for news of a loved one. She was also integral in developing a program called “Helping Hands” to provide assistance to employees of the hospital during personal financial emergencies.
In December 2001, Arizona rescinded dialysis services to undocumented citizens. Smith, in her role as nephrology social worker, was placed in the position of preparing discharge plans for patients who had no viable discharge resources. Smith was determined to protect these patients’ access to the life-sustaining dialysis treatments they required . She organized other nephrology social workers, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, the Arizona Kidney Foundation, the William Morris Foundation for Human Rights, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to fight for these vulnerable and marginalized patients, many of whom did not even speak English.
Although Smith had support from other social workers and organizations, she was suspended without pay and threatened with termination because of the conflict of interest with her employer. Currently there is a severe humanitarian crisis on the border between the United States and Mexico, and confusing immigration policy makes it even more complex. However, according to Smith, each patient is to be treated with dignity and, as professionals, social workers and doctors are required to do “no harm” to any patient, regardless of citizenship. Smith maintained her integrity and professional dedication in fighting to help these patients live.
Along with her primary job at the hospital, Smith dedicates many hours of volunteer work to the National Kidney Foundation. Visiting a nursing home with her dog, a golden retriever named Baily, Kay Smith has demonstrated service and competence, providing therapy to residents of the home. She also volunteers at Handi-Dogs Inc., where she teaches handicapped people to train their own dogs for service.
NASW commends Smith for her advocacy on behalf of the disenfranchised members of our society, for her commitment, and her courage.
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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 140,000 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.