Another Outstanding NASW-CA Annual Conference

By Shirley Gentilini, MSW, LCSW

In October, our Chapter put on another outstanding NASW-CA Annual Conference. This conference was a celebration of 40 years of NASW California becoming a Chapter.

The keynote speaker, Nancy Humphreys, DSW, ACSW, is one of the founding members of the California Chapter. She shared her experiences of working to consolidate the local chapters to form the California Chapter into the largest chapter in the United States.

Social workers and NASW members in California can be proud that Dr. Humphreys began her journey in social work in 1960, when she received her degree in sociology at Occidental College, Los Angeles, California. She earned her MSW degree in 1963 at the School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. And in 1975, she graduated with a DSW degree from the School of Social Welfare, University of California.

Dr. Humphreys is a professor of policy practice and director of the Nancy Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Her areas of specialization include public child welfare and family services, women’s issues, social work education, and social work in Armenia. She was the former dean of the School of Social Work and also president of the National Association of Social Workers.

In 2003, Dr. Humphreys received an NASW Lifetime Achievement Award for her impact on the profession and society.

In Washington, D.C. this year, Dr. Humphreys presented a talk on “Inspirational Leadership from Past and Present Pioneers; Enduring Strategies for Improving Society.”

For all that Dr. Humphreys has achieved over her career in social work and academia, she continues to remain involved. She remains zealous about the social work profession. Her enthusiasm for her many roles and accomplishments in social work, past and present, is as contagious as her sense of humor and humility.

I would encourage you to google her to learn more about her amazing career, achievements, and dedication to our profession as I have only touched on a few.

Thank you, Dr. Humphreys for all you have contributed to the profession and to NASW and thank you for working 40 years ago to bring local chapters in California into one large California chapter.

The morning plenary session had another outstanding presenter, David Kessler, one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. He has written many books in which he shares his many experiences dealing with clients who have experienced loss through separation, divorce, and death.

He told us about his way of helping clients who have experienced grief over their losses. His most recent book, You Can Heal Your Heart, emphasizes finding peace after a break up, divorce, or death.

David Kessler also worked with the legendary Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, co-authoring the book  Grief and Grieving and Life Lessons.

For more information on David Kessler and other books he has written, you can go to his websites at www.grief.com or www.DavidKessler.org.

At the Social Awards Ceremony, three outstanding individuals were honored. Public Citizen of the year was awarded to Shirley Krohn. She is an advocate for California’s older adult population and has worked diligently to improve the life of seniors. She worked on the Assembly Bill 663, which mandated that administrators of residential care facilities be required to obtain five hours of training in cultural competency and sensitivity in aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender minority issues. This bill, AB 663, was chosen and highlighted at the 2013 Lobby Days event at the State Capitol. Social work students and other professionals discussed and advocated for passage of the bill with senators and representatives. As you can see, Shirley Krohn is an exceptional advocate for issues needing the attention of our California lawmakers.

The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014 was given to John Ryan, LCSW, for his advocacy for mental health and substance abuse. He began his 44-year career with Orange County Mental Health. Later he became director of Riverside County Department of Mental Health, a position he held for 24 years. John developed new models of comprehensive planning and programming. He had the foresight to see the need for providing services in multiple languages and made it happen. Although retired, John Ryan continues to remain active. He belongs to the California Mental Health Directors Association, Statewide Mental Health Planning Council, and the Office of Statewide Health Planning. Congratulations, John, you are an exceptional role model for our new generation of social workers.

Donna Jensen, PhD, LCSW, received the Social Worker of the Year award. She is an instructor and distributed learning coordinator for CSU, Chico State. In addition to her work at CSU, Chico, she works with older adults; adults with learning disabilities; and the terminally ill, all within the behavioral health system.

She spoke her passion and dedication to providing services in the rural areas of our state became apparent. For clients living in rural areas of the state social worker availability is limited; however, Donna shared her ideas for making this less of a problem. I have listed only a few of her many accomplishments. Congratulations, Donna, you clearly deserve to be the 2014 Social Worker of the Year.

I thank Janlee Wong and his staff for putting on such a well-attended and successful conference. We are very fortunate to have such hardworking and dedicated staff for California, NASW.

Several agencies were present and at their exhibits they acquainted attendees with resources. One of the highlights of this conference was the Exhibit Hall. You could feel the level of enthusiasm and energy as attendees met with colleagues. This conference provided us with many opportunities to be grateful for NASW’s forty-year celebration.

Later another event that took place was the California Social Work Hall of Distinction, 2014 Induction Ceremony and Reception. Colleen Friend, Chair, California Work Hall of Distinction Committee, and Esther Gillies, President, California Social Welfare Archives, put together another successful Ceremony.

Congratulations to the 2014 inductees L. Georgi DiStefano, LCSW; Marilyn L. Flynn, PhD; Marilyn Montenegro, PhD; Alex J. Norman, DSW; Helen Ramirez, MSW; and Fernando M. Torres-Gil, PhD.

The California Social Work Hall of Distinction honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to California social welfare and the social work profession. Inductees identifying a vision of how things could be better in their communities work toward change. To learn more about the newly inducted and former inductees you can go to: www.socialworkhallofdistinction.org. Past events can be viewed at www.youtube.com/USCSocialWork.

I have shared with you those who received awards and recognition for their outstanding contributions. We can be proud of them and their achievements.

I know that many of you in our chosen profession also work diligently toward improving the lives of others in our communities; some of you are educators, others are practitioners, lawmakers, policy makers, and administrators.

I wish you the best during this holiday season as you celebrate with family and friends and look forward to 2015.