Deborah Grey, MSW ’79, LCSW, was named 2013 Social Worker of the Year, by the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC).
The Social Worker of the Year Award is presented annually to a social work professional who has demonstrated commendable social work practice and involvement with NASW and other professional, civic and community organizations.
Grey has made substantial contributions to the social work profession through her work as a forensic clinical social worker and mitigation specialist in capital murder cases. She has worked on over 150 death penalty cases and testified in approximately thirty capital sentencing cases either as a mitigation specialist or expert in clinical social work. Grey has the clinical skills to identify the intergenerational patterns of abuse, neglect, mental and physical illnesses that have impacted her client’s life trajectory.
In the course of her work, she has introduced countless attorneys across the country to the importance of understanding the biopsychosocial histories of their clients.
“Deborah’s work has contributed to building a bridge between social work and the law that simply did not exist in this state prior to her work,” said Jack Register, NASW-NC board of directors member.
Grey will be honored at the NASW-NC Annual Ethics Conference and Awards Luncheon on March 1 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.
