NASW-TN regrets the delay in hosting our Annual Awards ceremony that was originally scheduled for March 24 at Social Work Day on the Hill. We will be highlighting our award winners in this and future issues of Children and Family Connections."
NASW-TN Social Worker of the Year
Ms. Sarah Dill, LMSW
Sarah is a living role-model of commitment to social work values and ideals. She treats everyone she meets in a caring and respectful manner, valuing the dignity and worth of each person. She builds trusting and dependable relationships with her clients, colleagues and community members. As the Mental Health Services Coordinator at Hope House Ms. Dill has honed her social work skills while serving individuals and families living with HIV becoming an expert in working with traumatized and hurting people.
When asked what she considered to be her greatest accomplishment thus far Sarah revealed that it was creating and facilitating an ongoing support group for women of transgender experience. She explains how one of her clients, a transgender woman, expressed her despair that there were no therapy groups specifically for women who identified as transgender or gender non-conforming and were living with HIV. Not one to pass up an opportunity to provide a service needed in the community Sarah created a weekly group for transgender women living with HIV. As a result of her dedication to the group and consistently maintaining and promoting the safeness of the group it has been in existence for over two years!
To understand the impact that Ms. Dill has had on the many clients and families that she has served she received an award in 2014 for being the “Most Helpful Social Worker.” What makes this award extra special is because this description of Ms. Dill was voted on and given to her by women living with HIV who were attending a Women’s HIV Empowerment Forum. Her clients recognize the value of and depth of her commitment.
Nominated by: Robin Lennon-Dearing, PhD, MSW
