2025 Awards Process 

Regional award winners will be selected from the nominees for each of the eight NASW Ohio regions by the Regional Director(s) and/or committee. From the regional winners, one statewide award winner will be selected from each of the social work award categories by the NASW Ohio Board of Directors. Regional and State winners will be recognized at the NASW Ohio Social Work Celebration in March of the following year. 

Annual Awards Timeline:

• August 31st – Nominations due
• October  – Regional winners selected
• January – Statewide winners announced
• March – Annual NASW Ohio Social Work Gala

Award Categories & Criteria 

The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates an Ohio social worker's lifetime of accomplishments. In honoring the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, NASW Ohio Chapter recognizes the best social work values and accomplishments demonstrated in the social worker’s lifetime career.

Criteria: This award recipient must be retired or nearing retirement. The recipient must demonstrate repeated outstanding achievements, as well as recognition beyond the social work profession, contributions of lasting impact, outstanding creativity, meet all criteria for Social Worker of the Year, and be an NASW member in good standing.

The Social Worker of the Year Award honors a member of the NASW Ohio Chapter who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values and achievements through specific accomplishments. In honoring the Social Worker of the Year, NASW highlights superb accomplishments in the practice of social work.

Criteria: The award recipient must make a demonstrable difference in such areas as advocacy for clients, social policy, social work practice, program development, administration, research; demonstrate outstanding leadership; contribute to a positive image for the social work profession; take risks achieving outstanding results; and be an NASW member in good standing.

The Emerging Social Work Leader Award recognizes outstanding contributions of members who have been in practice for five years or less. In honoring the Emerging Social Work Leader, NASW highlights the exemplary contributions of social workers who are new to the field.

Criteria: The award recipient must be a licensed social worker and have 5 or fewer years of practice experience; demonstrate contributions to the field (through community service, advocacy, practice, education, research, management and leadership, etc.) that are above and beyond that which is expected for someone with less than five years’ experience; contribute to the positive image for the social work profession; demonstrate capacity for leadership in the profession; and be an NASW member in good standing.

The Student of the Year Award recognizes social work students who have demonstrated great passion and aptitude for the field of social work.

Criteria: Nominees must have been enrolled in an MSW, BSW, or Associate/Pre-Social Work program at some point during 2025. The award recipient must demonstrate excellence academically, in their field placements (if applicable), and through extra-curricular activities both on and off campus. They must exemplify the NASW Code of Ethics, be passionate about the field of social work, show great promise as a future social worker, and be an NASW Ohio member in good standing. For the student award category only, regions will sponsor the $60 membership cost if a nominee is selected to win but cannot afford the membership. However, they do have to be willing to join in order to win. 

The Outstanding Service to NASW Award is given to a social worker for outstanding service to NASW. In honoring the recipient, NASW Ohio Chapter recognizes the best social work values and accomplishments demonstrated in the social worker’s NASW activities.

Criteria: The award recipient must be actively involved in regional and/or state level NASW activities over a period of years, made significant contribution to an NASW project during the past year, demonstrated a consistent adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, and be an NASW member in good standing.

Agencies of the Year Award honors agencies that best exemplify social work values in the field. Using best practices to make positive change in their communities.

Criteria: The agency should be run by or employ social workers and promote and uphold NASW standards and Code of Ethics; develop and implement innovative approaches for the provision of more effective services; make a significant contribution to a population of concern to the social work profession (i.e. advocacy for consumers or social workers, impact on social policy, exceptional program and program creation, excellent administrative development, innovative research, etc.); and have a diversity of employees that reflects their clientele and/or has policy that implements culturally competent and anti-racist practice.

Submit Your Nomination - 2025 Nominations are CLOSED

Please read prior to submitting your nomination:

• Nominations are made by NASW Ohio region, so please make sure to verify which county, and thus NASW Ohio Region, your nominee lives in. You can view your NASW-OH Region here.
• The Emerging Leader, Outstanding Service to NASW Ohio, Social Worker of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Awards all require nominees to be NASW Ohio Members in good standing to be eligible for award consideration. You can verify your nominees membership by emailing info.naswoh@socialworkers.org or calling 614-461-4484. If you nominee is not a member, you can ask them to consider joining! For student of the year nominees who are not already members, regions will sponsor the $60 membership cost if a nominee is selected to win but cannot afford the membership. However, nominees do have to be willing to join in order to win. Membership is not relevant for Agency of the Year.
• Click here for a list of all our past regional winners. 
• Please make sure to have your nomination letter ready to upload prior to submitting your nomination form. Multiple letters from multiple people can be submitted on behalf of your nominee. While there is no nomination letter length required, the more details you provide about why your nominee should be selected, the more likely they are to be chosen. Asking multiple people to submit letters on behalf of your nominee is also encouraged, but not required.
• Other information that will be requested: For individual nominee's - email, phone number, home address, place of work and job title, or for students their university and the degree they are seeking. For agency nominee's - contact person's name, email, and phone, and the agency's address.