Alumnus Named State Social Worker of the Year

Bill Lamb, MSW '74, has been named the 2004 Social Worker of the Year by the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Work (NASW). Lamb's social work career spans more than 30 years and has focused mainly on services to the elderly.

Lamb is the associate director for Public Service at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute on Aging and is an adjunct faculty member at the School of Social Work, teaching aging and public policy courses and advising students interested in the aging concentration.

Prior to his current position, Lamb worked with the N.C. Division of Aging, serving as planning branch head and human services planner/evaluator. He has extensive service with the N.C. Division of Social Services, and he has been a statewide leader in social work geriatric practice. He was one of the first state consultants to work with the Medicaid Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults and he helped start the Medicaid Enhanced Care Program in Adult Care Homes and Social Service departments. He has helped produce three state aging service plans that were mandated by the state legislature.

In addition to his professional work, Lamb has been involved in advancing the field of social work. He is a past president of the North Carolina chapter of NASW and has been active in the organization's legislative, conference planning and inquiry committees. He is also a past president of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work Alumni Association. He is currently on the N.C. Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

Lamb's other current volunteer positions include chair of the board of the Directors for Friends of Residents in long Term Care; member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors for the N.C. Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons; board member of the Shepherd House in Chapel Hill; and member of the Wake County Adult Care Home Advisory Committee.

"I just want to give thanks to the many social workers who have influenced me during my career," said Lamb when he accepted his award. "Any reward I receive is a tribute to them as well."

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