Social Worker of the Year
Selected by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) as the recipient of its 2010 Social Worker of the Year award, Jacqueline B. Cook, L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., C.S.W.-G., OU Physicians Family Medicine, accepted the award at a presentation held last month. NASW
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| Jacqueline Cook accepting the Social Worker of the Year award |
A reception honoring Cook followed the presentation. "It is indeed an honor to be recognized in this way," she said. "Beyond personal recognition, I hope the award will also serve to promote the excellent interdisciplinary care available at OU Physicians in general, and Family Medicine in particular."
In selecting the ideal recipient, NASW seeks an association member who exemplifies the profession's best values, demonstrated by achievement and specific accomplishments. According to Steven Crawford, M.D., chair, department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Cook possesses the exceptional qualities to support her nomination for the award. "Jacque's commitment to helping people, her excellent leadership skills and unique ability to integrate clinical experience and education in her work set her apart in the practice of social work," he said. "She is highly regarded not only among her colleagues in Family Medicine, but also by peers across the state who are familiar with her work. She is certainly deserving of this prestigious award."
Other than a few exempt groups, social workers, by definition, are licensed by the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma's licensing laws uphold specific standards of professionalism, which must be met in order to obtain a license to practice. Licensing differentiates social workers from those who work in social services. For example, employees of the Department of Human Services provide valuable service and assistance, but are exempt from state licensing laws.
In addition to marital and family therapy and mental health concerns, the scope of Cook's clinical practice is broad, including a major teaching commitment in the area of behavioral medicine. With additional certification and credentialing in geriatrics, Cook also works to educate patients regarding dependency and its effects on infirm older persons, their families and related care-giving issues.
