Oregon Dept. of Human Services
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News Release
Announcing the 2019 Tom Moan Honoree for Excellence in Child Welfare Casework - 03/30/20

(Salem, Ore.) – As part of National Social Work Month in March, the Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Program named Dave Owens of Eugene, the 2019 Tom Moan Memorial Award. The annual award recognizes and promotes leadership and outstanding achievement by caseworkers in the field of child welfare.

“National Social Work month is a time to recognize that social work is more than social workers. Those who work to positively impact communities, families, youth, and children should be celebrated for their contributions to social change and development,” said Child Welfare Director Rebecca Jones Gaston.

The awardee is chosen through nominations from community organizations, Child Welfare employees, and organizational partners and will attend the National Association of Social Work Conference in Washington DC. All expenses for the travel are raised by DHS staff and the Tom Moan award committee. Moan was a career child welfare caseworker and administrator in Oregon.

This year’s winner, Owens, is a caseworker with 20 years of experience in Lane County. Owens was awarded to recognize his exceptional skill at family engagement, connections to community partners and the high level of respect he has from youth and families.

“We are exceptionally proud of Dave’s work serving strengthening Lane County’s children and families,” said Jones Gaston. “He honors the abilities and strengths of families as he works alongside them to address challenges. He is thoughtful and humble, and those he works with know he is not there to judge but to help.”

The National Association of Social Workers organizes Social Work Month to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession. More information is available at www.socialworkmonth.org.

 

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