Statewide Social Work Month Award Winners
This May, we are thrilled to dedicate our Membership Spotlight to the remarkable individuals who were honored as our Statewide Social Work Month Award Winners. These dedicated professionals represent the very best of our field, demonstrating unwavering compassion, advocacy, and leadership across Florida.
Join us in applauding their achievements and the vital impact they make in our communities every day!
Award Winners:
Rachel Badilla, LCSW
2026 Social Worker of the Year
Outstanding contributions to the social work profession and community.
Rachel Badilla has made a lasting and measurable impact on individuals, families, schools, and the broader community by expanding equitable access to trauma-informed mental-health services and community-based support. Through Heal Grow Thrive Liberty City and her school-based aftercare programs at Greater Love Academy and St. Anthony’s, she has served more than 100 children and adolescents who previously had limited access to consistent mental-health care. These youth have demonstrated improved emotional regulation, reduced behavioral challenges, stronger coping skills, and improved engagement in school, as reported by parents, educators, and caregivers.
Michael Alicea, EdD, MSW, MS
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for a lifetime of dedication to the social work profession through leadership, service, and integrity.
Dr. Alicea’s lifelong dedication reflects a career built on service, integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to advancing the mission of social work. His influence spans education, clinical practice, public safety, and community empowerment. For these reasons, and for the countless lives he has impacted through mentorship and leadership, Dr. Michael J. Alicea is profoundly deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Sarah Ingram-Herring
2026 Social Work Educator of the Year
Outstanding contributions in social work education in the area of teaching, research, and service.
Dr. Sarah Ingram-Herring has made a lasting and meaningful impact on individuals, communities, and the social work profession through her sustained leadership as an educator, administrator, and trauma-informed practitioner. With more than three decades of clinical and administrative experience, she has served in high-impact settings that support vulnerable and underserved populations, including work connected to HIV/AIDS services, youth and family mental health, family preservation, and school-based support systems. This long-standing commitment reflects her deep investment in strengthening individual and family well-being while advancing the profession’s mission of service, dignity, and social justice.
Juan "Bobby" Escobar
2026 Social Work Student of the Year
Demonstrated enormous potential in the social work profession.
Mr. Escobar reflects the values of social work, including Service, Social Justice, Dignity and the Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence as demonstrated in everything he does and accomplishes. He promotes policies that will help people in need by constantly building connections, challenging biases and injustice, respecting each individual, and acting with the highest integrity. He initially didn't know how to accomplish what he has, but that didn't stop him. He learned and became competent in leadership, policy, social justice, and much more. Below are a few examples of what Mr. Escobar has accomplished.
Representative Debra Tendrich
2026 Elected Official of the Year
Outstanding dedication to promoting healthy eating and efforts to alleviate domestic violence in the community.
Rep. Tendrich is a champion of Social Workers. Her values of social justice and equality mirror those of NASW and Social Workers in her district and for the county. She started and currently runs a non-profit called Eat Better-Live Better, promoting healthy eating to improve overall lifestyles. She is a strong advocate and fights for the rights of victims of Domestic violence and has sponsored bills in the House aimed at fighting DV. She sponsored House Bill 277, called the Domestic Emergency and Batterers Reform and Accountability Act. The proposed bill has support from lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum, with leaders such as Republican Danny Nix as the prime sponsor and Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud as the Senate sponsor. As a survivor of DV, she recognizes and uses her platform as a House Member to speak for and fight for increased legislation for victims of DV.
Jennifer Benton
2026 Public Citizen of the Year
Demonstrated an unwavering commitment to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Jennifer Benton has served as the CEO of Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT) for over two decades, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Southwest Florida. While she is not a social worker by trade, her leadership embodies the core mission of the profession. She has transformed ACT from a small shelter into a comprehensive multi-county service provider that offers 24-hour helplines, emergency shelters, and advocacy. Her unique ability to bridge the gap between administrative excellence and empathetic service delivery makes her a standout candidate. She is a tireless voice for the marginalized, ensuring that safety and healing are accessible to all residents of Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties.
Michele Munzner, DSW, LMSW, ACM-SW, Southwest Unit Chair
Medical Social Worker with DeSoto Memorial Hospital
This month, NASW-FL is honored to spotlight Michele Munzner, DSW, LMSW, ACM-SW, Southwest Unit Chair and the Medical Social Worker with DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Michele started out as a database administrator in the airline industry. She designed and implemented processes for a Data Warehouse, while providing 24/7 support to multiple airline hubs.
After graduating with her MSW, with a focus on geriatrics, she transitioned to medical social work. A few years later, she received a DSW in Medical Social Work. Currently, she is the case manager for a 49-bed acute care facility providing discharge planning, psychosocial support, financial counseling, community resource allocation, and education.
Michele created a comprehensive, personalized plan focusing on the social determinants of health to reduce readmissions and has reduced readmissions by approximately 10%. She also created a Diabetes Management Education group. This 6-week program focuses on individuals with concerns about diabetic management, covering diet, exercise, and disease education.
Michele says there are three things medical social workers must know:
- Healthcare systems and care coordination - They need a solid understanding of how hospitals, insurance, discharge planning, and community resources work together. This helps them guide patients through complex systems and ensure continuity of care.
- Assessment and counseling skills - Medical social workers must know how to assess a patient’s mental, emotional, and social needs—especially during illness, trauma, or end-of-life situations—and provide appropriate support or interventions.
- Ethics, patient rights, and confidentiality - A strong grasp of ethical standards (like informed consent, patient autonomy, and privacy laws such as HIPAA) is critical to protect patients and make sound professional decisions.
Michele’s airline industry background prepared her to manage complex systems, coordinate across teams, and respond quickly in a fast-paced environment, skills that medical social workers need to navigate healthcare systems and support patient care.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Munzner on her dedication to the social work profession.
Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD
NASW's Newest Social Work Pioneer
NASW-FL is honored to spotlight Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD, a professor at the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University and a distinguished leader in social work education, ethics, and conflict resolution. In June 2026, Dr. Barsky will be inducted as a “Social Work Pioneer” by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), a testament to a career defined by advocacy and systemic change.
Dr. Barsky’s influence on the profession’s moral compass is profound. Nationally, he served on the NASW National Ethics Committee for over a decade, including a term as Chair (2015–2017). Notably, he chaired the NASW Code of Ethics Review Committee, spearheading the pivotal 2017 revisions to the Code. His expertise also extends to the digital frontier; he was instrumental in developing the 2017 regulatory standards for the use of technology in social work practice.
A fierce advocate for marginalized communities, Dr. Barsky has dedicated his career to advancing equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals. His commitment to service is equally evident in his local community work, where he has volunteered with the Refugee Assistance Alliance to support Afghan refugees resettling in Florida.
In recent years, he has emerged as a leading voice for academic integrity, facilitating a national conversation on academic freedom for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in 2025. This work, alongside his lifelong dedication to teaching, earned him the CSWE “Lifetime Achievement Award in Social Work Education” in 2025. Dr. Barsky’s reach is truly international. He serves on social work boards in Greece and Spain and has presented his research across the globe, from Korea and Vietnam to Israel and the United Kingdom.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Barsky on all of his dedication to the social work profession and for his induction as a NASW Social Work Pioneer!
Sharon Ross-Donaldson, LCSW-QS, MBA
CEO & President of the Center for Health Equity (Quincy, FL)
NASW-FL is honored to spotlight Sharon Ross-Donaldson, a powerhouse in social work whose career perfectly illustrates the bridge between clinical excellence and executive leadership. A proud NASW member for over 23 years, Sharon has been a steadfast supporter of our chapter, generously lending her expertise to the office to assist with conference planning and logistics.
Since 2014, Sharon has served as the CEO and President of the Center for Health Equity in Quincy, Florida. In this role, she leverages her unique interdisciplinary background—combining an MSW from Florida State University with an MBA certification from UCLA’s Anderson School of Business—to drive strategic vision, fiscal health, and data-driven outcomes for Florida families. Sharon’s impact on the profession is felt deeply through her commitment to the next generation of social workers.
Her credentials and contributions include:
- Education: Longtime faculty member at the FSU College of Social Work, teaching and mentoring students for more than two decades.
- Supervision: An LCSW-Qualified Supervisor and State of Florida Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Trainer.
- Specializations: Advanced training in Infant Mental Health, EMDR, and forensic social work.
Before her current tenure, Sharon held pivotal state-level roles, including Assistant Executive Director for Healthy Families Florida and key positions within the Florida Supreme Court’s Office of the State Courts Administrator. From developing statewide standards for the Guardian Ad Litem Program to advancing maternal and child health policy, Sharon has spent 30 years building sustainable systems that champion equity.
Join us in congratulating Sharon on all of her accomplishments and dedication to NASW-FL!
Dr. Stacy Kratz, PhD, LCSW, CAP
Sport Social Work Journal Co-Founder
NASW-FL is spotlighting Dr. Stacy Kratz, PhD, LCSW, CAP for her years of service to the social work profession! Raised in Chicago's South Side, roughly 50 blocks south of the Jane Addams Hull House, Dr. Kratz relays her "deep connection to social justice from birth". She learned from an early age that local matters are influenced by global concerns, and after completing her first undergraduate degree and living abroad, Dr. Kratz returned to the United States and went on to complete her BSW, MSW, and PhD from the University of South Florida.
Drawing upon her experience as a multi-award-winning community advocate, licensed clinician, and professor in higher education, she leads with strength. She started her clinical training at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL as an MSW intern. She then moved into wrap-around services at Success 4 Kids & Families while also being a member of the Florida DCF Tampa Bay Refugee Service Task Force, where she founded the Refugee Task Force Mental Health Team. Licensed in 2006, Dr. Kratz two decades of experience in private practice serving individuals, couples, and groups, as well as, consulting with global social development organizations. She became a faculty member at the University of Southern California in 2011, and in 2025 joined the School of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Growing the presence of social work in the behavioral health Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology space drives much of her passion today as she has been working with large teams in the development of digital-first therapy platforms. The depth of her social work practice spans many interests: military social work, child welfare prevention programming, clinical social work, social work education, program development, and behavioral health AI technology advancement. She speaks about the beauty of a social work career as its innate ability to "flex in any place where humans interact in the social environment."
Dr. Kratz conducts both quantitative and qualitative research and is active in organizational consulting focused on culturally responsive program development and evaluation. Her research interests, publications, and training curricula reflect a transdisciplinary approach, and include: health promotion and disease prevention, reproductive health throughout the lifespan, accessibility, social work education and faculty development, psychotherapy best practices, athlete mental health and well-being, and providing a voice and choice to the disenfranchised. She has held multiple executive level volunteer positions in the nonprofit sector, most recently with the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports, where she co-founded and serves as Associate Editor of the Sport Social Work Journal. With co-author Ddr. Stephanie Rodado, OhD, MSW, the first-ever Social Workers' Desk Reference chapter on Sport Social Work was published.
Most recently Dr. Kratz launched the Modern Mind Institute of Psychotherapy and Consulting with two long-term social work colleagues, Dr. Amber Ford, EdD, LCSW and Elyssa Hnatov, LCSW, serving psychotherapy clients in all 50 states. Dr. Kratz has a passion for developing #nextgen social work leaders who bring zeal to improve systems that help children, families, and communities thrive!
Ruth Brandwein, PhD
2018 NASW Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
The National Association of Social Workers - Florida Chapter is proud to recognize Ruth Brandwein, PhD, as our November member spotlight! Dr. Brandwein has been selected for her unwavering and lifelong commitment to the core values of social work, demonstrating extraordinary resilience, leadership, and advocacy for social justice.
Dr. Brandwein's career is a testament to the power of a social work professional to ignite change in communities, academia, and government. Throughout her career, she has been a tireless advocate for marginalized populations, and her extensive research has focused on critical issues such as women and welfare, family violence, and feminist theory and practice.
Positions in academia helped Dr. Brandwein to use her skills in writing, teaching, and research to promote social and economic justice. Dr. Brandwein translated theory into practice by helping move homeless families out of motels and into supportive transitional housing and developed a program to keep at-risk children out of foster care. She also created a mission statement for the Department of Social Services that emphasized the dignity and respect for all clients and workers.
Decades of commitment have earned Dr. Brandwein high praise and recognition, including the 2018 NASW Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW-FL's Sarasota-Manatee unit. Her colleagues have continuously recognized her as an inspiration and a true example of a social work champion who dedicated her career to helping people and inspiring new generations of social workers.
On behalf of the entire NASW-FL Chapter, we extend our sincere thanks for all you have done! Your career is a stellar example of how the actions of a single social worker can change our society for the better. We are honored to have you as a member and celebrate your incredible legacy.
Seth Berkowitz, LCSW, CCLS
Florida Leadership in Oncology Social Work Award
The National Association of Social Workers - Florida Chapter congratulates Seth Berkowitz, LCSW, CCLS, Director of Strategic Healthcare Partnerships for Blood Cancer United, for being honored with the Florida Leadership in Oncology Social Work Award by the American Cancer Society, state of Florida, and the Florida Society of Oncology Social Workers (FSOSW). This award recognizes Seth’s dedication, vision, and lasting contributions to the social work profession.
With more than 19 years at Blood Cancer United, Seth has built a career defined by commitment to patients and to strengthening the role of social work in cancer care. He is widely respected for his expertise in community outreach, healthcare partnerships, and program development, as well as his ability to build collaborative relationships that benefit both patients and professionals.
As a past President of FSOSW and active member of NASW-FL, FSOSW, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Seth has expanded professional resources, strengthened partnerships, and advocated for oncology social work at the state and national levels. Each year, he participates in NASW Florida’s Legislative Advocacy and Education Day, ensuring the voice of social work is represented in healthcare policy.
Seth has also shown outstanding leadership in supporting adolescents and young adults with cancer. Through support groups, program development, and initiatives such as the Young Adult Summit at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, he has provided vital resources for this underserved population.
The Florida Leadership in Oncology Social Work Award is a fitting recognition of Seth Berkowitz’s impact. His vision, advocacy, and service continue to inspire colleagues and strengthen oncology social work across Florida and beyond.
Congratulations, again, to Seth for this major accomplishment!
David W. Springer, PhD, LCSW
2025 NASW Social Work Pioneer
The NASW Florida Chapter is proud to celebrate David W. Springer, PhD, LCSW, as our September Member Spotlight. The NASW National Office has recognized Dr. Springer as a Social Work Pioneer, a prestigious honor that highlights his unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and remarkable work in bridging direct practice with community building and public policy.
The NASW Social Work Pioneers Program honors distinguished leaders who have made historic and enduring contributions to the evolution of the profession. Pioneers are recognized for their impact on social work practice, education, research, program development, advocacy, legislation, and leadership. Their influence is evident not only in the development of social policies and educational programs but also in their role as models of excellence for future generations of social workers.
Dr. Springer currently serves as the Dean of the College of Social Work and the Guy and Dolores Spearman Professor of Social Work at Florida State University. His commitment to the profession has left a lasting impact on both faculty and students, inspiring future generations of social workers through his scholarship, leadership, and collaborative efforts to promote mental well-being and foster resilient communities.
Dr. Springer is a true example of dedication to the social work profession and has made a profound impact on the lives of many. Dr. Springer served in numerous leadership roles at UT Austin, including Director of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Advisor of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, where he was also Co-Founder and Director of the Inter-American Institute for Youth Justice. He also served as Dean of the School of Social Work at Portland State University.
Dr. Springer has been recognized for his leadership in the field and impact on society as a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research.
Dr. Springer's recognition as a NASW Social Work Pioneer is a celebration of his extraordinary contributions and an inspiration to the entire profession. We proudly honor his achievements and his ongoing dedication to advancing social work.
Congratulations Dr. Springer! We are thrilled you are a member and now a pioneer of NASW.
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Meet Our Inaugural Honoree: Dr. James A. Deutch (Dr. Jim)
2025 NASW-FL Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
65 Year Member of NASW
For more than six decades, Dr. Jim has committed his life to service, advocacy, and justice. His story is a powerful reflection of the NASW Code of Ethics in action. Through his leadership in Operation Babylift and Operation New Life, he fought for social justice by ensuring safety, resettlement, and dignity for thousands of Vietnamese children and refugees. His dedication to military families and veterans - providing mental health services and developing critical support systems - demonstrates his deep belief in the inherent worth of every person and the importance of human relationships in healing and resilience.
By offering free mental health services through TLC Services and authoring accessible resources for caregivers, Dr. Jim models competence grounded in compassion and responsiveness to community needs. His decades of policy advocacy, mentoring of future social workers, and commitment to ethical leadership embody the integrity and service that define our profession. Dr. Jim's life is more than a career - it is a legacy that brings our values to life and reminds us all of what is possible when compassion meets action.
As a longtime NASW member, his unwavering commitment to our Chapter and the profession has helped shape the policies, people, and programs that continue to serve Florida's communities today.
Read more about Dr. Jim's journey in this powerful feature by our 2025 Public Citizen of the Year, Rick Outzen: Outakes: Unsung Heroes.