Barbara Boatwright, MSW, ACSW Receives NASW Lifetime Achievement Award

Social worker and political activist honored for her dedication to profession

Washington--The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to honor Barbara Boatwright, MSW, ACSW with the NASW Lifetime Achievement Award for her achievements in social work and political advocacy.

Throughout her career, Ms. Boatwright has found ways to amplify her political voice through the social work profession.  A tireless advocate for improvements to health and mental health services, she combined the micro and macro levels of social work to improve the lives of individuals and the community.

“Barbara Boatwright is an exceptional social worker who has provided outstanding service to individuals, marginalized populations, and her community,” says Dr. Elizabeth Clark, NASW executive director.  “More than 57 years after she stepped into the political and clinical arenas, she is still committed to social work values, ethics, and action.”

Ms. Boatwright was an avid activist in the Iowa political scene, advocating for female and African-American candidates.  She felt that the problems her clients presented in therapy often had roots in the politics of the community and the policies of state agencies.  In 1993, she co-founded the Democratic Activist Women’s Network (DAWN) to elect pro-choice Democratic women to the Iowa Legislature.

In 1984, Ms. Boatwright was instrumental in the passage of Iowa’s first social work licensing law.  She advocated for social work involvement in the political process through her work on the Iowa PACE Committee.  In 1999, she received the inaugural Barbara Boatwright Political Action Award, created by the NASW Iowa Chapter to honor her involvement with social work and political advocacy.

After receiving her Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949, she worked as a school social worker in Illinois.  In the 1950s she moved to Iowa and provided services in a children and family agency.  She found her true calling in social work in clinical social work with a community mental health center and a private practice.

Ms. Boatwright taught and provided clinical supervision to graduate social work students for 31 years at the University of Iowa School of Social Work, Des Moines Center.  Her passion for political activism transferred to many of her students – three of whom currently serve as member of the Iowa legislature.

It is with great pride that we confer this award on Barbara Boatwright, MSW, ACSW, as she has dedicated her lifetime to the advancement of social workers and their involvement in the political process.

For more information about Ms. Boatwright, or to set up an interview, please contact NASW Communications at media@naswdc.org or 202-336-8228.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 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 its advocacy.