Trump cancels millions in school mental health grants 

School social workers are asked to step in for a variety of issues, including failing grades, bullying, violence, chronic absenteeism or to conduct a suicide risk assessment, said Valerie Arendt, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter.

“School social workers are that person who comes in and addresses social, emotional and mental health needs and are that bridge between the school, the community and the family to help make sure that the student is thriving,” she said.

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Education leader advocate master's requirement, pay restoration for school social workers

Key Points

1. Recommendation to state board to require master’s degree for school social workers
2. Measure to restore master’s pay has traction in House; Senate resistant to change
3. Five-year window created for current social workers to attain degree

The credentialing and salaries of school social workers remains a point of advocacy for state education leaders. 

The Whole Child NC Advisory Committee on Tuesday adopted a motion to recommend to the state board of education to require a master’s degree for all school social workers and restore master’s pay.

The motion is contingent upon staff at the Department of Public Instruction speaking with members of the North Carolina Senate chamber to gauge interest in securing funding. 

The standard set by the National Association of School Social Workers is a minimum of a graduate degree. However, more than 30 states require a master’s degree to practice in schools. Current school social workers with a bachelor’s degree who could be affected by the proposal would have five years to attain their master’s. 

“One is to align with national standards,” Ellen Essick, section chief for NC Healthy Schools, said of the proposal. “Another is standardization with other school mental health professionals. A school counselor has to have a master’s degree, a school psychologist has to have a master’s degree, but we don’t do the same thing for our school social workers.”

Social workers with a master’s can handle more complex caseloads, as well as provide crisis management and Medicaid billing services. Master’s pay could be an incentive to gravitate social workers to the school system, said Pachovia Lovett, a school social worker consultant for the Department of Public Instruction.

“There is no shortage of social workers in North Carolina,” Lovett said. “We graduate hundreds of social workers in this state every year. A lot of them don’t choose to come to schools for multiple reasons, but should the atmosphere be right, we can get them … The workforce issue does not apply to us.”

Through 2027, DPI is able to provide funding for school social workers who wish to upgrade their degree through partnerships with North Carolina State University, UNC-Pembroke and UNC-Charlotte. Virtual options are available for these courses. 

Historically, the House has been receptive to restoring master’s pay across different school support positions, Geoff Coltrane, senior director of Government Affairs and Strategy at the Department of Public Instruction, said. 

That hasn’t been true in the Senate. Coltrane said he has not had specific conversations with Senate members about restoring master’s pay for school social workers, but said the chamber has been “resistant” in the past. 

“We just have to keep selling the benefits that this would provide students,” he said. 

In 2013, a North Carolina law removed salary increases for educators with advanced degrees, along with other school support positions. There are roughly 1,660 school social workers in the state. Just over a thousand have a bachelor’s degree; about 650 have a master’s degree. 

It’s estimated it would cost nearly $4.3 million from the General Assembly to restore master’s pay for those who currently have that degree. Essick said it would be nearly an $11 million reccuring allocation to pay every school social worker in the state at a master’s rate, although it would take some time to scale up that figure.

“Do we say, ‘Well because we don’t think it will happen, so we’re not going to make an ask?’” Essick said. “We do that a lot. We’ve been talking about this for quite some time in terms of making a real push [to restore master’s pay].”

In 2023, a bill filed by Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg, appropriated over $500,000 to restore master’s pay and provide roughly a 10% salary boost for school social workers. The proposed House budget this year proposed restoring master’s pay for school social workers. 

“We know the importance of this [pay increase],” Rupen Fofaria, director of board operations and policy, said to the committee. “The board, and DPI as well, has advocated to the General Assembly for a number of years and has not received this. If the funding is not authorized in the budget, then the board can’t responsibly change the policy.”

One potential avenue forward Fofaria raised to restore master’s pay would be to mirror a bill that passed the House this session. House Bill 433 prohibits the state board of education from requiring a school nurse to obtain a four-degree and opens up master’s pay for a nurse with at least two years of experience under the certified school nurse pay scale. 

“With that legislation having come through, do you go back to the General Assembly and say, ‘We want the same thing with social workers’ … That might be a new way to come at this,” Fofaria said. 

“School social workers deserve for this team to continue to have these conversations at every forum it can be in,” Natasha Scott, a Cumberland County school social worker, said.

Nash Community College Announces Retirement of Dean Marbeth Holmes After 29 Years of Service

Nash Community College (NCC) announces the upcoming retirement of Dean Marbeth Holmes, a respected campus leader and student advocate whose career at the college spans nearly three decades. Holmes will retire after 29 years of service, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in teaching, wellness, and student support.

Since joining NCC in 1996, Holmes has held numerous roles dedicated to student success. In addition to her leadership within student services, she is a longtime instructor of English, humanities, and social sciences, earning a professorship in 2004. Her deep commitment to students has helped shape the college’s approach to holistic support and academic achievement.

Click here to read the full article. 

4 people die by suicide in NC every day. Here are 3 communities at high risk.

As North Carolina looks to prevent suicide and suicide attempts, officials are paying special attention to several high-risk groups. Black youths, veterans and LGBTQ+ youths in North Carolina have disproportionately high rates of suicidality, according to the state’s 2026-30 Suicide Prevention Action Plan, which published last month.

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Recognizing and addressing youth mental health and substance use recovery

“For many children and young adults, the pandemic was a source of trauma. Some may have experienced the death of a loved one, others might have dealt with homelessness or a health issue — and nearly all of them experienced a form of isolation that they are still processing,” explains Mona Townes, a licensed clinical social worker and addiction specialist and mobile crisis director at Integrated Family Services. “So while we may have thought these mental health struggles would have leveled off to pre-pandemic norms, that’s not what has happened.”

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Alumni Highlight: Heather Palmateer, a Rock in the Storm

When Heather Palmateer graduated from NC State in the Spring of ‘21 with her MSW, she could have never anticipated that, three years later, she would be on the frontlines of Appalachian devastation. Face to face with the trauma inflicted on Western North Carolina by the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Katrina, tragically claiming over two hundred lives in a once-in-1,000-year flood.

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The system is broken: An open letter on mental health and substance use issues

I have been working in mental health for 15 years. I started out working with individuals with autism and eventually began working with people struggling with mental health and substance use issues. Later, I supported adolescents and teenagers carrying deep trauma. Today, I work behind the scenes at a Managed Care Organization (MCO) in North Carolina. I help develop plans and connect individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism, to essential services.

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Amaria Rankins’ compassion and drive to help others inspired her to pursue a major in social work.

“I have always wanted to work with kids, but I wasn’t sure what aspect I wanted to go into,” she said. “I came here for exercise science to become an athletic trainer for middle and high schools.”

In the end, she chose her major after her roommate talked to her about social work with children, an idea that called to her.

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Maternal health event drops 'Black' from its title over federal funding concerns

The group's CEO, Tchernavia Montgomery, said the group decided to omit the word Black from the conference's title this year out of fear it could cost them federal funding.

“If we were to allow one word to trigger those that are in charge of disseminating funds, I believe that would be a detriment to those that we're serving,” Montgomery said. “We serve nearly 1,300 families with our maternal childhood programs. That is growing. I do not want to have to cease that programming for those individuals — knowing that for some of them it's life-saving — over one word.”

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Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai hosted a roundtable with health care professionals and Medicaid beneficiaries to highlight the lifesaving impacts of Medicaid and discuss the importance of protecting Medicaid funding from federal cuts. 

“Protecting North Carolinians’ health care access is critically important,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am proud of our state’s bipartisan work to expand Medicaid, and I call on that same bipartisan spirit in Congress to stand up and protect Medicaid so we can continue to provide critical care across our state.” 

More than three million people across the state, or 1 in 4 North Carolinians, have affordable health coverage through NC Medicaid; including more than 640,000 North Carolinians who gained access to care in the last year under Medicaid expansion. 

“New enrollees are now able to see providers and are receiving life-saving care with more than five million prescriptions being filled for conditions like heart health, seizures and diabetes,” said Secretary Sangvai. “Medicaid increases access to high quality care for individuals, children and families and is essential in our mission to create a healthier North Carolina for all.” 

The roundtable discussion was hosted by Care Ring, a non-profit organization with nearly 70 years of service to individuals and families in Charlotte. Care Ring provides health services to thousands of people each year who may not otherwise have access to care. Mecklenburg County is home to more Medicaid enrollees than any other county in North Carolina.  

“Medicaid expansion has enabled our team to help even more families in Charlotte access affordable, high-quality health care,” said Care Ring CEO Tchernavia Montgomery. “I thank the Governor for highlighting our organization’s critical work and raising awareness of the need to protect the health care of those who are most vulnerable and lack resources.”  

Health care providers and leaders were joined by Tashenda Gibson, an early childhood care giver enrolled in NC Medicaid. She spoke about the critical care she is receiving as a new mother. 

“NC Medicaid has been a life-saving component of care for me and my family,” said Tashenda Gibson. “I recently welcomed a healthy baby girl, and Medicaid helped through pregnancy, delivery and now postpartum.”  

Chief Johnny Jennings also joined the conversation to highlight the positive impact of Medicaid on public safety. 

“First responders are on the front lines of mental health crises,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. “Providing resources for those in crisis contributes to a safer community and reduces the need for law enforcement intervention in situations stemming from untreated issues." 

The discussion comes at a time where, despite widespread support for Medicaid, Congress is proposing significant cuts to the program, which would have a devastating impact on North Carolina, including a $6 billion loss in funding for health care providers. Proposals being considered could cause more than 640,000 hardworking North Carolinians to lose their health coverage, take billions from North Carolina’s economy, drive up state costs, and cut coverage for health care services. 

Other participants in the roundtable discussion included: 

• Dr. Raynard Washington, Director, Mecklenburg County Public Health Department 

• Dr. April Milan Miller, OB/GYN, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 

• Eddie Caldwell, Director, NC Sheriffs’ Association 

• Caleb Theodros, NC State Representative, HD-41 

• Carla Cunningham, NC State Representative, HD-106 

Earlier this week, Governor Stein sent a letter to North Carolina’s congressional delegation asking them to oppose any federal budget proposal that includes cuts to Medicaid. He highlighted how NC Medicaid strengthens communities, particularly in rural North Carolina with affordable health coverage and supports the workforce as well as businesses. 

Please see the North Carolina Medicaid fact sheet for more information. 

NASW-NC member and 2021 NASW-NC Social Worker of the Year Dr. Sonyia Richardson was featured on WRAL discussing her new study is calling attention to the mental health crisis in youth and the need for more resources.

The Factors Associated with Suicide Risk Behavior Outcomes Among Black Middle School Adolescents study by UNC researchers looked at data extracted from the 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Study.

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Study lead Sonyia Richardson said the results highlighted the need for ‘informed cultural approaches to suicide screening and prevention efforts.’

“The highlights of our findings include 28% of Black middle school students nationally have reported suicidal thoughts or behaviors, which means they’re thinking about suicide, they’re either planning for suicide and/or they’ve attempted suicide,” said Richardson.

The data included information from 7,643 self-identifying Black youth.

It found 1-in-4 Black middle school students had thoughts of suicide, 1-in-6 Black middle schoolers made plans to take their own lives, and 1-in-10 Black middle schoolers made a suicide attempt.

Learn more from WRAL here: https://www.wral.com/lifestyle/health/unc-study-black-youth-suicide-risk-north-carolina-feb-2025/

NASW-NC member Ann Dupre Rogers, LCSW and Executive Director for Resources for Resilience was interviewed on CNN This Morning Weekend to discuss the mental health effects of the devastating California wildfires. Drawing on the Resource for Resilience team's experience supporting communities across western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, she shared valuable insights on how residents can care for themselves and others during this difficult time. Thank you to CNN for highlighting the critical need for mental health care in the aftermath of such tragedies.

Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzvsIyzijts

A number of NASW-NC members were interviewed about the ongoing mental health needs after Hurricane Helene.

Ann Dupre Rogers, Cindy Shealy, Jenny Shealy and Pachovia Lovett are all members of NASW-NC:

• December 29, 2024: In Asheville, recovering from Hurricane Helene is not just physical but mental too – NASW-NC member Ann Dupre Rogers interviewed.
• January 1, 2025: Therapists also recovering from Hurricane Helene have more empathy for clients – NASW-NC members Ann Dupre Rogers, Jenny Shealy and Cindy Shealy interviewed.
• January 3, 2025: How Hurricane Helene changed one teenager’s life – NASW-NC member Pachovia Lovett interviewed.
• January 8, 2025: After Helene’s floods, North Carolina tries to tame trauma’s lasting damage - NASW-NC members Ann Dupre Rogers and Pachovia Lovett interviewed.

Find additional mental health coverage from NPR here: https://www.npr.org/people/1128948946/katia-riddle

NASW-NC will continue to lobby for additional mental health funding for those impacted by Hurricane Helene during the 2025 North Carolina Legislative Session and beyond.

A recent audit of North Carolina’s health department found problems with the oversight of nursing homes. Friends of residents also hear many reports about complaints not being investigated promptly. Often by the time an investigation is done, families have moved a resident, staff have left the facility and, in many cases, the resident has declined to the point of hospitalization or death. Residents and families want the state to provide sufficient resources to support quality services and promote a system of care in which we can take pride. Unfortunately, that is simply not the case in N.C. Calls to the General Assembly to support specific staffing standards, appropriate sufficient funds to support quality care and to provide additional resources to hire and maintain staff to complete nursing home inspections have fallen on deaf ears. We hope that this audit will spark discussion and intervention from state leaders to better protect our nursing home residents.

William Lamb, Raleigh

Family peer support partners are parents, caregivers or family members with lived experience raising children with behavioral health challenges. These trained professionals help families navigate systems such as behavioral health, education, child welfare and juvenile justice, while also advocating for and connecting the families they serve to critical services and supports.

"Family peer support is about meeting families where they are with compassion and expertise," said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Susan Osborne. "This investment will help us build a highly trained and certified workforce of family peers who can provide critical guidance and support to families navigating the behavioral health system."

NCDHHS is partnering with UNC Greensboro (UNCG) to implement the initiative under the umbrella of the UNCG NC Youth and Family Voices Amplified program. UNCG NC Voices Amplified is a statewide initiative that trains individuals with lived experience to become family and youth peer support partners and assists provider agencies in integrating family partners with the services they provide. UNCG will conduct evaluations to assess the new initiative’s impact, including tracking families’ progress and satisfaction with family peer support services.

Participants will be credentialed through the National Federation of Families as Certified Family Peer Specialists, ensuring a high standard of training and professionalism. These efforts aim to transform family peer support in North Carolina into a funded professional position, helping to create a new trauma-informed, family-focused service area within the behavioral health workforce.

"Family and youth peer support is an evidence-informed practice that improves health outcomes, while reducing overall costs of services," said UNCG NC Voices Amplified project director Willow Burgess-Johnson. "Family peer support partners improve quality of life for those struggling with behavioral health issues and for the people who love and care for them. We’re so excited to see this important support become increasingly accessible for North Carolinians."

By investing in family peer support, NCDHHS aims to:

• Reduce need for out-of-home placements for children with complex behavioral health needs
• Support reunification and permanency for children and families involved in the child welfare system
• Decrease the number of nights children spend in emergency departments waiting for an appropriate placement or treatment option by connecting more families to community-based supports
• Build a strong behavioral health workforce that reflects and understands the unique challenges faced by families of children with complex needs
• Empower families to advocate for themselves and their children

Coastal Horizons' Estes Earns Advocacy Award

Coastal Horizons recently announced that Ryan Estes, chief operations officer, has been awarded the Advocacy All Star Award by the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC).

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NASW-NC Member Stephen Valentine Sworn in as Durham County Commissioner

Congratulations to NASW-NC member Stephen Valentine, MSW, JD for being sworn in as a Durham County Commissioner!

In addition to serving Durham County, Stephen is the Director of the Veterans Law Clinic at North Carolina Central University. Commissioner Valentine served in the active U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves. Mr. Valentine is a graduate of Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science cum laude and he went on to earn his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania where he was awarded the Samuel Sylvester Award for outstanding achievement and leadership.

Later he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the NC Central University School of Law after receiving the Bronze Star Medal for service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his military career he attended the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Advance Course at the Army Medical Department Center and School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was on the Commandant’s list and the recipient of the Colonel Richard Lynch Leadership Award.

Later he attended the Army Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course at the Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School at the University of Virginia, where he was awarded the Judge Advocate General’s Leadership Award. 

Stephen is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia, The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, and a Department of Veterans Affairs accredited attorney.

Stephen is a former Presidential Management Fellow with the United States Department of State in the Political Military Bureau and he served as a detailed Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia. He also served on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa with assignment to the office of Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10).

Prior to being appointed as the Director of the Veterans Law Clinic Stephen served as an Assistant Professor in the undergraduate and graduate Social Work Department here at NC Central University.

On Air Today: Dr. Andrea Murray-Lichtman from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work

Dr. Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Associate Dean of Master of Social Work Education and Clinical Associate Professor at UNC spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, December 3. They discussed the importance of social workers in our community, and the increasing need for people in those roles. She also talked about what sets the UNC School of Social Work apart, the flexibility of the Master of Social Work degree paths, and more.

Click here to listen to the piece.

Advocates call for laws to increase staffing, improve care at nursing homes

"North Carolina should not be proud of our standard," Lamb said. "We lag behind most of the states in the United States. And that’s a problem as we look at the aging of our population."

Click here to read full article.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Trinitee Smith, a senior at Elizabeth City State University, has made history by becoming the university’s first social work student elected to the National Association of Social Workers – North Carolina Chapter board of directors. Smith will serve as the undergraduate student representative for the 2024-2025 term. She emerged victorious amidst fierce competition from social work students statewide.

Smith’s journey into social work was fueled by her lifelong dream of supporting children and advocating within the mental health and legal sectors.

Beyond personal achievement, Smith views her election as a significant milestone for representation. As a Black woman, she emphasizes the need for diversity in leadership roles within the field. “We deserve to be in those spaces, and we have every right to contribute and excel in them,” she stated.

Goals of the Young Leader

Driven by her commitment to advocate for communities often marginalized, Smith aspires to specialize in clinical social work. She wants to focus on children’s therapy while integrating her expertise into schools, nonprofit organizations, and community programs. 

“I would also like to work alongside government to advocate for and implement policies that truly address the needs of marginalized communities,” Smith explained.

Applying for the NASW-NC board position was a step towards entering influential spaces early in her career. “I knew it was a challenge, but that’s what drives me. I like being in uncomfortable circumstances to see how I thrive,” she reflected.

At just 20 years old, Smith is poised to take on a leadership role among seasoned professionals. “While I may be younger than the other members of the board and just starting my career, I firmly believe that age is only a number. I’m confident in my ability to contribute effectively and capably,” she noted.

Kim Downing is a professor of social work and the director of the social work program at ECSU. She praised Smith’s skills and qualities and the impact she can make in her new NASW-NC role. “As a small HBCU, sometimes, our students are not always afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their level of brilliance and skills. But this position will allow Smith to showcase her knowledge and skills, proudly representing ECSU,” Downing shared. “One of the reasons Trinitee’s acceptance is so significant for our program and the broader student body is because such an achievement will convey to students, current and future, they too ‘belong’ in positions and spaces with leaders and decision-makers.”

Congratulations to NASW-NC member Lauren Quick-Graham, LCSW, LCAS, CCS who has been appointed by Governor Roy Cooper at the recommendation of NASW-NC as a SUD Professional Member to the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board. Lauren's term began July 1, 2024 and will expire June 30, 2027.

The mission of the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare; to protect the public from being harmed by unqualified persons; and to assure the highest degree of professional care and conduct on the part of credentialed substance use disorder professionals.

Lauren graduated with her Bachelor Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from North Carolina State University. She holds licenses in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and a Certified Clinical Supervisor. 

She started her career interning at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. From there, she has worked in a variety of treatment settings including crisis services, medical detox, residential, and outpatient. Currently, Lauren works as a clinical social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, Lauren works as an LCSW abstractor for the NC Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). She focuses on reviewing overdose deaths, as well as other maternal deaths related to mental health and intimate partner violence. She hopes to bring awareness to how to prevent these deaths. 

Lauren views the appointment to the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board as an honor and privilege. “I look forward to starting on the board. One of the many reasons I love being a social worker is that we think from a systems perspective. We evaluate how the micro, mezzo, and macro systems relate and intersect.”

If you are a member of NASW-NC and are interested in being appointed to a vacant seat by the Governor to a North Carolina Board or Commission, please contact Valerie Arendt varendt.naswnc@socialworkers.org.

Congratulations to NASW member Kim Strom for being inducted into the prestigious NASW Social Work Pioneers! The NASW Social Work Pioneers program recognizes members who contribute to the “evolution and enrichment” of the social work profession.

Kim Strom, PhD, MSW, is the Smith P. Theimann Jr. Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Professional Practice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Dr. Strom has been a social work educator for more than 30 years, teaching micro and macro practice, education and leadership. Strom served as the director of the UNC Office of Ethics and Policy from 2016-23, directed Carolina’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities Tyson Academic Leadership Program from 2008-16, and was the principal investigator for the School of Social Work’s behavioral health care contract from 2012-21.

Dr. Strom’s pioneering social work interests include social work ethics and education and moral courage across professions. She has written more than 80 articles, studies and book chapters on ethics and practice, including 11 books that cover generalist, clinical and administrative practices.

She served the profession in many capacities including as a member of the NASW Code of Ethics Review Task Force in 2015 to recommend significant updates to the NASW Code of Ethics with the lens of specific ethical considerations when using various forms of technology.

Dr. Strom received the NASW Excellence in Ethics Award from the National Association of Social Workers’ Office of Ethics and Professional Review in 2015.

The 2024 class of pioneers includes 25 members who will be honored October 19 at the 18th annual NASW Social Work Pioneers Celebration in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations to NASW member Karen Bullock for being inducted into the prestigious NASW Social Work Pioneers! The NASW Social Work Pioneers program recognizes members who contribute to the “evolution and enrichment” of the social work profession.

Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, is the Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor in the Boston College School of Social Work and in Global Public Health. She has been a leading force in advancing social work education and training in health disparities, health equity, serious illness care, aging and gerontology, hospice, palliative and end-of-life care decision making for the last two decades. Dr. Bullock is the first and only social work practitioner who was honored as the 2024 Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 

Dr. Bullock grew up in rural North Carolina and graduated from North Carolina State University with her BSW (1990). She received her MSW from Columbia University in New York (1992) and her PhD in sociology and social work from Boston University (2000).  Dr. Bullock was the first African American graduate from the Boston University Joint Doctoral Program in Sociology and Social Work.

Dr. Bullock joined the faculty of North Carolina State University in 2011 as an associate professor of social work before being promoted to the rank of full professor and being named head in 2013. She was the first African American to hold these positions in the Department and School of Social Work at North Carolina State. Under Bullock’s leadership, social work experienced significant growth in student credit hours and external funding. Bullock directed the unit’s transition from a department to a school and led a successful re-accreditation process. Since 2022 she has served as the Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor at the Boston College School of Social Work and Global Health.  

The 2024 class of pioneers includes 25 members who will be honored October 19 at the 18th annual NASW Social Work Pioneers Celebration in Washington, D.C.

Schwartz selected as Baynes Distinguished Scholar

The East Carolina University College of Health and Human Performance is proud to announce that Dr. Abby Schwartz, a scholar in the disciplines of social work and gerontology, has been selected for the esteemed Carolyn Freeze Baynes Distinguished Professorship. This honor recognizes Schwartz’s productivity in research, teaching and service to date, as well as her capacity to continue to make a positive impact through her scholarly activities.

Click HERE to read the full article.