This year, the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) is honoring the work of some exceptional Illinois social workers and individuals whose work promotes social justice and social change with and on behalf of the people and clients they serve.
Many thanks to this year’s NASW-Illinois Chapter Awards Committee members as well: Diona Shelton, Melissa Box, and Jennifer Gazda.
Congratulations to this year's 2024 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Award winners!
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Ann Fisher Raney, LCSW
Ann Fisher Raney, AM (The University of Chicago, 1987), LCSW, has served as CEO of Turning Point since 2001. With advanced degrees in social work and religion, Ann has taught at The University of Chicago and maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice. She is a graduate of Leadership Evanston and of the Executive Leadership Program at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. She has a certificate in Leadership Arts from the Graham School at the University of Chicago. She was selected for the 2014 Executive Leadership Program by the National Council for Behavioral Health. She serves on the Board for the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health.
SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR: Hannah Jacobs, LCSW
Hannah Jacobs, MSW (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017), LCSW, works at SIU Center for Family Medicine, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving medically and socially complex patients for the last 8 years. She serves as administrator for the SIU SOM Student Hotspotting Program, provides education to medical students and residents, is the current supervisor for the Behavioral Health Intern Program, and provides therapeutic services to patients within the FQHC.
EMERGING SOCIAL WORK LEADER: Jordan Steiger, MA, MPH, LSW
Jordan Steiger, MA (The University of Chicago, 2021), MPH (Tulane University, 2016), LSW, is senior program manager of clinical affairs and workforce at the American Hospital Association where she leads a portfolio of behavioral health initiatives related to stigma reduction, suicide prevention, community partnerships, integration, and health care worker mental well-being. She is passionate about ensuring that all people involved in the health care system—whether a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare worker—have what they need to thrive and reach their highest potential for mental healthiness.
PUBLIC CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Sue Loellbach
Sue Loellbach is director of advocacy for Connections for the Homeless based in Evanston, Illinois. She leads Joining Forces for Affordable Housing, an advocacy program which focuses on changing policy at the municipal and state levels, community education, and community organizing. Joining Forces has conducted an Equitable Zoning Study of Evanston, supports grassroots housing advocacy in multiple municipalities, and has collaborated with other advocacy groups to draft and pass state-level legislation related to affordable housing. Sue has also served as the director of development at Connections and has worked in poverty-related nonprofit organizations for over 20 years.
The NASW-Illinois Chapter is proud of the work of these individuals for their contributions both to the social work profession as well as their communities.
Comments