NASW and NASW Foundation Awards
The NASW and NASW Foundation Awards program recognize leaders in the profession and in our communities who embody social work values and ethics. Our award recipients have accomplished the extraordinary and we have been honored to recognize them.
The NASW national and NASW Foundation 2025 awards will be presented in conjunction with the NASW National Conference scheduled for June 15-19, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, IL.
Award Descriptions
We need your participation to keep the tradition moving forward. Please consider nominating a social worker or individual who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values for one of the following awards:
- A professional social worker who has made significant contributions or developed model programs that have been replicated or advanced social justice and anti-oppressive policy and practice for Social Worker of The Year or Lifetime Achievement
- An individual who has gone above and beyond in their community or who has advanced social justice and anti-oppressive policy and practice for Public Citizen of The Year
- An elected official who has shown leadership in public policy issues important to the profession such as the advancement of social justice and anti-oppressive policy and practice for Public Elected Official of The Year
- A social worker who is at the beginning phase of their career (five years post graduate) and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership as a developing professional for the Emerging Social Work Leader.
- A professional social worker who has made exemplary contributions in health and mental health practice for Knee/Wittman Lifetime Achievement
- An individual or group that has made a significant impact on national mental health public policy, professional standards, or program models for Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement
- An individual, group, or organization that has significantly advanced the public image of professional social work for the International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award