National Awards

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

An exemplary school social worker who:

Is currently practicing school social work as of the date of nomination.
Has a degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited university;
Has State School Social Work credential, if applicable, and/or a state social work license;
Is a member of SSWAA (before being nominated);
Has two more years of experience as a school social worker;
Has demonstrated commitment to the profession that extends beyond the expected duties of the specific school social work position (e.g., development of programs, innovations, presentations, etc.);
Has outstanding achievements in the field of school social work on behalf of students, school personnel, and/or the community.

RANDY FISHER CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

A practitioner dedicated to the field of school social work who:

Has a variety of experiences as a school social work practitioner, educator at the university/college level, author, and/or presenter, that span a significant number of years;
Has exhibited long-term membership and leadership spanning at least 10 years in state and regional work, as well as leadership in the School Social Work Association of America as a board member, committee member, or other leadership capacity.

BRIGHT STAR AWARD

This award recognizes a member for volunteer service to the School Social Work Association of America, demonstrated through attendance at events, support of its programs, promotion of organization initiatives, and thus to the advancement of the profession.

Must have been a member of SSWAA for at least 12 months;
Exemplifies commitment to SSWAA’s growth and impact;
Demonstrates initiative and leadership;
Provides enthusiasm, expertise, and commitment to the organization;
Supports the organization through membership and attendance at events;
Participates in committee work, programming, and association initiatives with dependability;
Represents SSWAA well through a positive attitude, a giving spirit, and ambassadorship.