UNK Professor named 2009 Social Worker of the Year

Dr. Maha Younes, professor and chair of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Social Work, has been named 2009 Social Worker of the Year by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NE).
In addition to teaching and research, her professional work includes more than 20 years of clinical experience working with survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders and relationship dysfunctions. Her clinical experience began at Hastings Regional Center where she worked as a psychiatric social worker. She served as a clinical social worker at South Central Behavioral Services from 1986-1991. She also maintained a private practice agency from 1986-2001.
For the past few years, Dr. Younes has led the Nebraska Consortium of Social Work School and worked closely with policy makers and leaders from the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (NDHHS) to promote the professionalization of the child welfare workforce in Nebraska. Through her advocacy and leadership, she has stressed that improvements in child welfare services in Nebraska will only emerge through the professional preparation and hiring of graduates with social work degrees.
In 1999, she developed the International Social Work Experiences Program at UNK with the goal of promoting cultural competence and global engagement.
In 2005, she was one of only 14 scholars from universities across the nation selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Thailand and Myanmar (Burma).