Awards
2012
ELECTIONS!!
Dear OSSWA Members,
It’s that time of year again…time for all of us to think of one deserving member of our profession and honor them. I am attaching a nomination form for Ohio School Social Worker of the Year and Friend of School Social Work. Please think about the contributions of all of your fine colleagues and submit your nomination forms soon! The criteria for each award follows:
(Previous recipients are not eligible.)
Ohio School Social Worker of the Year must:
1.) Be a practicing School Social Worker with a minimum of 2 years employment in a school setting.
2.) Have a Master’s Degree in social work and licensure by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (LSW or LISW). Licensure as a School Social Worker by the Ohio Department of Education (LSSW) is preferred.
3.) Have developed and implemented significant, innovative school social work practices.
4.) Have made a significant contribution to the practice of School Social Work (i.e., through professional presentation, publication, recognition/honors or as university field instructor/teacher.)
Friend of School Social Work nominee:
1.) May be a former School Social Worker who has not practiced in the school setting for at least one year.
2.) May be a Non-School Social Worker (i.e. community activist, politician, etc. or agency.
3.) Demonstrate advocacy and outstanding support for the mission of School Social Work and is affiliated with an organization to facilitate the education of children.
Your application narrative should reflect the above information.
The deadline is February 20th, 2012. Award recipients will be recognized at this year’s annual conference in May.
IMPORTANT: I am looking for members to serve on the nominations committee. I would like to secure at least one representative from each region. I will hold the meeting to review nomination forms in the central Ohio area. I will email forms to committee members to review and respond and we can also use phone conferencing for those interested persons who cannot make it to the meeting. Thanks for considering. Please contact me Mary DeCenzo if you are interested!
2011 OSSWA Awards Nomination Form
2011
School Social Worker of the Year
Gwendolyn Howard
Gwendolyn Howard has been awarded the 2011 Ohio School Social Worker of the Year Award by the Ohio School Social Work Association (OSSWA). She will be recognized at an awards luncheon during the OSSWA Spring Workshop on May 20, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio.
Mrs. Howard has worked as a school social worker since 2005 and is currently employed as a school social worker at St. Martin de Porres High School. She is described by a colleague as “the moral and spiritual guiding force for our students.” Mrs. Howard has organized valuable programs at the high school such as the “Jewels and Gents” social skills program. The program works to build a brotherhood and sisterhood of compassion and caring by reaching out to underclassmen and pairing them with older, experienced, successful students who serve as positive role models. Mrs. Howard also organizes community outreach experiences and service learning projects with students. Such experiences have included arranging for her female students to visit the statehouse to converse with State Senator Shirley Smith and organizing opportunities for her male students to tutor elementary students at an afterschool program.
Mrs. Howard runs a grief and loss group to support bereaved students as well as provide other supports to students to assist in academic and social success.
Mrs. Howard has supported her colleagues throughout the state by serving as the Northeast Regional Director for OSSWA, providing presentations at state and regional conferences and contributing to a publication designed to provide tools to others in the helping profession learning to lead groups. She supports her community through religious ministry and serves as Director of Mental Health for the United Missionary Baptist State Convention of Ohio.
Friend of School Social Work
Dr. Edward McKinney
Dr. Edward McKinney of Cleveland State University, has been awarded the 2011 Friend of School Social Work Award by the Ohio School Social Work Association (OSSWA.) He will be recognized at an awards luncheon during the OSSWA Spring Workshop on May 20, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. McKinney is a licensed independent social worker who has devoted much time and energy to the School Social Work profession through his role in the classroom as well as through advocacy in the community. He is an active member of several national organizations such as March Against Poverty and Stop Targeting Ohio’s Poor (STOP.) He has been on sabbatical in Africa many times and is the founder of several African schools.
Dr. McKinney has embraced and supported the local Northeast region activities of OSSWA as well as collaborating with OSSWA to develop a new curriculum for the program of School Social Work at Cleveland State University.
Nominees for Ohio School Social Worker of the Year
Liz Reiger: Dayton – Southwest Region
Liz is a licensed independent social worker and a highly qualified school social worker who has devoted her time, energy, and efforts to the students and families in the West Carrollton City School District for the past 11 years. She is innovative in her interventions with students and consistent in her interactions with families. Liz is a dedicated social worker and brings a wealth of knowledge of the profession to her clients and her co-workers. More importantly, she always brings with her: compassion, enthusiasm, a kind smile, and an offering of hope.
Program development activities are many and include streamlining and administering a local Christmas assistance program for families, as well as conducting many various groups for students throughout the years. She has coordinated several professional development opportunities for her district including topics such as domestic violence, mental health service delivery and response to crisis.
Liz is the recipient of Dickerson T Guiler Award for Excellence in education.
Karrie Mann: West Carrollton – Southwest Region
Kerri has developed programming of excellence for elementary students. Trimble, located in Appalachia is one of the poorest school districts in Ohio. There has been a marked improvement in attendance and of parental participation. Kerri developed a solid Girl Power program (to involve girls in health and wellness activities which broaden the scope and vision of their futures and provides leadership opportunities) and is advisor to two others. Kerri brought several thousand dollars of grant money to fund projects to the school district. Trimble is now recognized as a school of excellence. Kerri has contributed to this success.
She has partnered with existing organizations in the community to provide services to families such as Second Step, Americore, Pennies for Patients and a summer food assistance program for families.
She has received the employee of the year award through her employer, Athens County Children Services. She is a field instructor through Ohio University.
Nominees for Ohio Friend of School Social Work
Maggi Ault
Maggi Ault, LISW, has been a social worker with Six County, Inc. for 12 years in the Muskingum Valley Region, where she works with adults, children, and families. Maggi has worked as a school-based clinician for nine years, and is a master at engaging kids of all ages. Maggi is extremely knowledgeable of community resources, a great communicator within the schools she serves, easily accessible, and reliable – she is an asset to the social work profession and friend of school social work.
The Prevention Partnership of Sandusky County
The Prevention Partnership does many positive things to impact students and families. Their Mission is “To embrace a collaborative and coordinated approach towards community action to reduce the number of youth and adults who engage in substance abuse and other risky behavior in Sandusky County.” Several subcommittees are formed out of this partnership including: Alcohol, Tobacco, & other Drug (ATOD) Access- responsible for implementing an action plan to reduce access to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; Asset Development – responsible for promoting Youth Asset Development within the community; Awareness – responsible for increasing community awareness of the risks and harmful effects related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. The Partnership is wonderful about collaborating with area school districts to provide services, trainings, assemblies/events, and ongoing support related to their mission. They set up monthly parent meetings regarding “hot issues” (i.e. bullying, teen depression/suicide, etc). They provide materials to help celebrate Red Ribbon Week and have coordinated assemblies on Internet Safety and Drug/Alcohol Awareness. They support the role of social work in the school system and build on school social work programs.
Dr. Murali Nair
Dr. Nair has been instrumental in helping students to pass their social work licensure exams.. He conducts seminars and preparation sessions for the “National Social Work Licensure Examination.” Dr. Nair is always positive and willing to go the extra mile to help others. He has a genuine love for people and for helping them to improve their quality of life. Because of his love for the profession, Dr. Nair generously spends time with social workers and students of social work. He leads a Study Abroad program with students traveling to experience India. OSSWA is collaborating with Cleveland State University as they develop a curriculum for the new program of School Social Work Practice.
2010
School Social Worker of the Year
Demitra Turner
Demitra has practiced at both the Cleveland Heights-University Heights (CHUH) and Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). At CHUH, she was instrumental in expanding the attendance program in partnership with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court (CCJC) and Department of Children and Family Services as the result of a Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant. At CMSD, Demitra has been an invaluable member of the department of only fourteen school social workers serving over 50,000 students, staff and families. She is an invaluable member of the CMSD crisis response team that last year responded to over 450 crisis calls.
Friend of School Social Work
Marianne Derr
Marianne is a licensed independent social worker who has worked in the field of recovery treatment and prevention for many years. Marianne worked diligently with several school districts in Delaware County to establish an AOD prevention and intervention program in the elementary schools. The program she helped to establish is family focused and in my experience with Marianne’s influence and clinical skill as a result she has helped numerous families in Delaware County.
2009
School Social Worker of the Year
Nicole Stacey
Nicole Stacey is the Director of Counseling Services at St. Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Martin de Porres High School has been recognized for their outstanding school climate. Mrs. Stacey’s co-workers believe this positive school climate is due to the success of the high-quality school social work services that are provided in the school. Last year was the year the first class graduated from St. Martin de Porres High School. The school had a 100% graduation rate and 100% of the graduating students were accepted to college. Mrs. Stacey is credited with developing the counseling department in this school from scratch. She is also seen as a wonderful mentor, supervisor and role-model to aspiring school social workers.
Friend of School Social Work
Ellen Abraham
Ms. Abraham has been chosen as friend of school social work based on her dedication toward students and families and the education she has provided to those in her community. Ms. Abraham chairs the Northeast Action Network for School Success (OMHNSS). She works to bring community members and schools together to promote mental health services in the schools. She has also done work in educating legislators and state officials on the many non-academic barriers to a child’s education.