BRISTOL, Tenn., May 3, 2022— Professor Jodi Helbert, Ph.D., was recently chosen as Social Worker of the Year by the Northeast Tennessee Branch Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-TN).
The honor recognizes Helbert’s vast contributions to the social work profession, as well as the implementation of a series of humanitarian service engagements that raise awareness of issues and provide needed psychoeducation.
“This award reflects the many ways that Dr. Helbert’s professional expertise is making our region a healthier, more compassionate community, and we’re very proud to see her recognized in this way,” said Matt Roberts, Ed.D., provost of King. “Her scholarship, heart for service, and talents make her a major influence in her field and beyond.”
In addition to the award, Helbert was appointed to serve on a national task force that developed free training and education for social work faculty who are responsible for teaching future professionals. The goal of the task force is to help professionals practice effectively and competently in addressing infant and early childhood neurocognitive developmental issues, efforts that recently led to the publication of a Specialized Curricular Guide for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH).
Helbert is the founding coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Work program at King. She has conducted workshops, delivered presentations, provided in-service education, and published on many topics, including trauma-informed systems of care, human behavior, the pathophysiology of the brain in Alzheimer’s disease, and death and dying.
She is a Board Certified Diplomat (BCD) in trauma-informed clinical social work and a member of numerous organizations, including the American Academy of Christian Counselors (AACC), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW), the International Consortium of Social Developers (ICSD), International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), and Phi Alpha, the national Social Work Honor Society.
Helbert was previously named Social Work Today Magazine’s Top Ten Deserving and Dedicated Social Workers and also appointed a Kentucky Colonel. She also received a Public Service Award for Distinguished Citizenship from Kentucky in 2008.
For more information about King University’s social work programs, visit www.king.edu/programs/social-sciences/social-work. For more information about NASW-TN, visit www.naswtn.com.