NASW National Awards
Recipients will be honored at ALM
By Rena Malai, News staff
Two social workers, a judge and a congressman are being
recognized as the recipients of the NASW National Awards for 2012.
The four annual awards are given to social workers, public
citizens and public elected officials who have made significant contributions
to society.
“NASW is proud to honor the selfless service these individuals
have given to some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said NASW
President Jeane Anastas. “Their work demonstrates the positive impact that
social workers, citizens and public officials who support social work causes
can make. They have made this world a better place.”
2012 National Award Recipients Videos
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| Karon Konner |
Social Worker of the Year
Karon Konner
Karon Konner, a clinical social worker at Massachusetts
General Hospital, has been a social worker for more than 11 years. She is
committed to working with the most vulnerable patients in her current position
and was selected to join a specialized interdisciplinary team at MGH. The
initiative follows a select group of disenfranchised and marginalized patients
to ensure they receive optimal care and discharge plans. Konner also works on
the MGH disaster team and has spent time in Indonesia, Louisiana and Haiti
after the respective natural disasters in those areas and provided mental
health services to the affected residents. Her colleagues say she is a mentor,
while at the same time open to learning.
 |
| Raymond Monsour Scurfield |
Lifetime Achievement
Raymond Monsour Scurfield
An NASW member since 1967, Raymond Monsour Scurfield is
professor emeritus at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus.
Scurfield has 45 years of social work experience and is internationally and
nationally known for his expertise in post-traumatic stress disorder, and for
being an educator and innovative therapy and program developer. Scurfield has
received 15 awards for scholarship, teaching and service, including the 2006
Mississippi NASW Chapter Social Worker of the Year award and being named a
“Hero of Katrina” by the University of Southern Mississippi in recognition of
his assistance and leadership role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He
also is dedicated to helping veterans and their families, and he received the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Special Achievement Award in recognition of
his work on a national epidemiological study of veterans of the Vietnam War era
at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C.
 |
| Jeffrey Ford |
Public Citizen of the Year
The Honorable Jeffrey B. Ford
Jeffrey Ford is founder of the Champaign County (Ill.) Adult
Drug Court, where he has served for the last 13 years. In his prior position as
associate circuit judge in the 6th Circuit Court of Illinois, Ford presided
over the Champaign County Traffic Court, and started an initiative to learn
about substance abuse and addiction issues related to driving while under the
influence.
Ford used the knowledge he gained to create effective
sentencing procedures that address the underlying substance abuse issues of the
defendant while keeping the community safe.
The Champaign County Adult Drug Court is recognized as one of
the most successful drug courts in the state of Illinois. Under Ford’s
direction, it has given defendants the opportunity to get the treatment they
need for their substance abuse issues.
 |
| Rep. Lloyd Doggett |
Public Elected Official of the Year
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, is committed to advocating for
equity and social justice in the state of Texas and across the U.S., with a
special focus on helping low-income, disadvantaged, elderly and youth
populations.
Doggett has received the American Bar Association’s Justice
Award for his work on legislation that provides funding for legal services to
the disadvantaged; AARP’s 2008 Legislative Achievement Award for his leadership
on Medicare; and the Public Interest Research Group’s Public Interest Champion
for his strong defense of consumer rights.
The recipients of the 2012 awards will be recognized at the
NASW Annual Leadership Meeting this month.
For more, visit www.socialworkers.org/governance/awards/
From April 2013 NASW News. © 2012 National
Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News
articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of
copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies
made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising,
promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.
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