Celebrate excellence in social work across New York State
New York — Social workers make the world a better place in a million ways, large and small, noticed and unnoticed, every day. They work on the individual level, helping people overcome personal crises like food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or limited access to good health care. They also advocate on a systems level to ensure laws and policies are adopted so everyone can access such services.
In support of this year’s National Professional Social Work Month theme “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform,” the National Association of Social Workers, New York Chapter (NASW-NY) is honoring the work of some exceptional New York social workers and those whose work promotes social justice and social change with and on behalf of the people and clients they serve. The NY Celebration of Social Work Awards recognize leaders in the profession and in our communities who embody social work values and ethics. Our award recipients are accomplishing the extraordinary and we are honored to recognize them.
The following exemplary social workers, social work students and a New York-based organization are being honored this year as 2026 NASW-NY Chapter awardees.
Browse the awards below and click a card to jump to full details and nomination information.
Recognizes recent (12–24 months) achievements that exemplify social work values and ethics.
Honors a currently serving New York official advancing equity, civil/human rights, and social welfare.
Honors a career of leadership, integrity, and lasting impact on the profession.
Recognizes a New York human service organization with values-aligned mission and measurable impact (12–24 months).
Celebrates a PhD/DSW candidate whose scholarship, leadership, and service advance justice and equity.
Honors courageous leadership advancing social, environmental, and/or economic justice in New York.
Honors a graduate student creating positive change through leadership and practice.
Recognizes an early-career BSW demonstrating leadership and core values.
Honors a rising MSW professional with strong leadership and ethical practice.
Celebrates an outstanding undergraduate who lives social work values in field and community.
Review each category below and click to expand the full eligibility details and submission criteria.
The Social Worker of the Year Award recognizes the commitment and significant achievements made during the past 12–24 months by an outstanding member of our profession. Individuals considered for this award demonstrate exceptional professional qualities and an active pursuit of the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of social work as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics.
This award honors a social worker who brings the heart, values, and ethics of our profession to life — someone who doesn’t just talk about making a difference but lives it through their work, community engagement, and daily interactions. In particular, their achievements in the past 12–24 months have made a significant impact, whether through a specific initiative or a sustained effort aligned with core professional values.
If an NASW-NY member with 5+ years of practice comes to mind, they may be our next Social Worker of the Year.
Any NASW-NY member in good standing with more than 5 years of practice, including self-nominations, who reflects the profession’s core values:
The Public Elected Official of the Year Award honors an elected official who demonstrates a strong commitment to social justice by addressing public policy issues that negatively impact individuals, families, and communities within the NASW-NY Chapter region. These issues may be long-standing concerns—such as housing insecurity, lack of healthcare access, or racial inequities—or emerging challenges from the past 12–24 months—such as pandemic recovery, climate justice, or youth mental health. The honoree listens directly to constituents, engages them in problem-solving, and incorporates their voices into real solutions. They lead by creating, advancing, or strengthening policies that reduce inequities, protect civil and human rights, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across New York State.
By nominating someone, you help NASW-NY honor and elevate officials who champion fairness, justice, and the dignity of all people. Your nomination shines a light on leaders who go above and beyond to improve the lives of New Yorkers.
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a current social worker who has devoted their career to the profession and consistently demonstrated NASW Code of Ethics values and practice. Recipients exemplify social justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. Their accomplishments have a lasting impact and are recognized within and beyond social work.
This award recognizes a career-long pattern of service, justice, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. The honoree consistently breaks down barriers, lifts up unheard voices, treats people with dignity and respect, and leads with vision—showing that social work is a calling lived daily across roles and settings.
A current NASW-NY member with 15+ years of practice who has demonstrated the profession’s core values over the course of their career:
What matters most is a sustained pattern of excellence, commitment, and impact.
The Meritorious Human Service Organization Award honors a human service organization that demonstrates a strong, values-aligned commitment to understanding and addressing issues faced by the communities it serves. Whether long-standing or recently established, the organization has shown measurable impact in the past 12–24 months within the NASW-NY Chapter boundaries and a sustained drive to improve service effectiveness and quality of life.
This award recognizes organizations whose mission and daily practice bring social work values to life. Leadership and staff break down barriers, elevate community voices, center dignity and respect, and inspire others through sustained, values-driven impact.
A social or human service organization serving New York State for at least 5 years whose mission aligns with the core values of the profession:
What matters most is a pattern of commitment and meaningful impact.
The Doctoral Student of the Year Award is presented to a PhD or DSW candidate in social work who demonstrates excellence and an active pursuit of the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of the profession as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics. The honoree exemplifies the mission of social work through scholarship, leadership, and service—engaging in research, policy, and practice activities that advance knowledge, enhance equity, and promote systemic change. They embody the integration of scholarship and practice to eliminate barriers to justice, protect human rights, and strengthen the profession’s future.
By nominating a candidate, you help NASW-NY spotlight emerging scholar-practitioners who advance knowledge, protect human rights, and lead systemic change. Your nomination lifts up leaders whose work strengthens communities today—and the profession’s future tomorrow.
The Champion of Justice Award honors a social worker who has made significant strides on a prominent social, environmental, and/or economic justice issue within the NASW-NY Chapter boundaries. Nominees promote sensitivity to and knowledge about cultural and ethnic diversity, work to ensure equitable access to needed resources and equality of opportunity, eliminate oppressive structural and institutional barriers to protect human rights, and encourage meaningful participation in decision-making—above and beyond the standard commitment.
Champions of Justice bring social work values to life—fighting for fairness in laws, policies, and systems; elevating community voice; and ensuring resources and opportunities reach those with the least access. They pair professional skills with compassion, lead collaboratively, and inspire others to join sustained, values-driven change.
A social worker whose work impacts communities within New York State and reflects the profession’s values:
By nominating a Champion of Justice, you help NASW-NY recognize social workers who go above and beyond to advance human rights and equity—lifting up work that strengthens communities today and catalyzes change for tomorrow.
The MSW Social Work Student of the Year honors a master’s-level student who demonstrates excellence and an active pursuit of the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of the profession as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics. The honoree exemplifies the mission of social work through advanced practice in their chosen specialization—clinical, policy, administration, group work, community practice, or another field. They analyze complex factors affecting practice settings, advocate effectively for people facing barriers, and are preparing for advanced professional roles (licensure, clinical assessment, supervision, policy practice, and leadership in social change).
Honorees integrate classroom learning with field experience, demonstrate leadership, and apply specialized knowledge to address injustice and improve systems. This recognition does not consider GPA; it celebrates students in good standing who create positive change for the communities they serve.
An exceptional graduate social work student or recent MSW graduate whose work reflects the profession’s core values:
By nominating an MSW student, you help NASW-NY spotlight emerging professionals who bring social work values to life—strengthening communities today and shaping the profession’s future.
The Emerging Social Work BSW Leader award honors a NASW-NY Chapter member at the early phase of their career as a generalist social worker who actively pursues the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of the profession as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics. Honorees demonstrate behaviors essential to effective and socially just practice, engage in ethical thinking and self-reflection, and commit to life-long learning. Recognition centers on commitment and significant achievements made in the past 12–24 months.
Awardees bring core values and skills to life at the start of their careers. They provide outstanding community service, encourage and advocate for those they serve across settings, act ethically and responsibly, and continuously strengthen their practice through education and inquiry. Their leadership lifts the profession’s visibility.
An outstanding BSW social worker at the beginning phase of their career whose work reflects the profession’s core values:
Must be a NASW-NY member in good standing, hold a BSW from an accredited program, and have ≤ 5 years post-degree practice.
By nominating an Emerging BSW Leader, you help NASW-NY honor early-career professionals who strengthen communities, elevate our profession, and inspire others through values-driven leadership.
The Emerging Social Work MSW Leader award honors a NASW-NY Chapter member at the beginning phase of their career as an advanced generalist social worker who actively pursues the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of the profession as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics, and who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities commensurate with their level of education. Recognition centers on commitment and significant achievements made during the past 12–24 months.
Honorees demonstrate core values and skills at the start of their careers through advanced practice in their chosen specialization (clinical, policy, administration, group work, community practice, etc.). They function in advanced professional roles—licensure preparation, clinical assessment, supervision, policy practice, and leadership in social change—analyzing complex practice contexts and advocating effectively for those facing barriers. They act ethically and responsibly, provide outstanding community service, and pursue ongoing learning and inquiry that strengthen their practice and elevate the profession.
An outstanding MSW social worker at the beginning phase of their career whose work reflects the profession’s core values:
Must be a NASW-NY member in good standing, hold an MSW from an accredited graduate program, and have ≤ 5 years post-degree practice.
By nominating an Emerging MSW Leader, you help NASW-NY honor early-career professionals who strengthen communities, elevate our profession, and inspire others through values-driven leadership.
The BSW Social Work Student of the Year honors a baccalaureate-level social work student who demonstrates excellence and an active pursuit of the values, knowledge, ethics, and skills of the profession as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics. The honoree exemplifies the mission of social work through their understanding of social welfare needs across diverse settings, engages in ethical thinking and self-reflection, and shows a commitment to life-long learning. They are prepared to enter the workforce as a beginning generalist professional. This recognition focuses on commitments and significant achievements made in the past 12–24 months.
This award recognizes an exceptional undergraduate who lives the mission of social work inside and outside the classroom. Understanding that learning exceeds academic performance, GPA is not considered; we celebrate students in good standing who create positive change in their communities and with those they serve.
A current BSW student or recent BSW graduate (within 6 months) with practicum/work experience in the NASW-NY Chapter region who reflects the profession’s core values:
By nominating a BSW student, you help NASW-NY spotlight emerging professionals who bring social work values to life—strengthening communities today and shaping the profession’s future.
Each year, NASW-NY recognizes exceptional social workers, students, and organizations who embody the values of our profession. Flip through highlights from the 2025 Celebration of Social Work Awards.