NASW invites you to vote for news articles, columns, magazine stories, radio segments, television news programs, and TV entertainment that you think best portrayed the social work profession in 2016.

Please read a description of each news article before choosing which you think best portrays the social work profession.

Homeless teen rescued by determination and pastry dough

Quad Cities Online

This article looks at the role of social workers and others in helping thousands of Chicago area teenagers who are homeless get the education they need and on the path to fulfilling their dreams.

The World’s Worst Dream Journal

The Outline

Social worker Martha Crawford, an NASW member, is using a blog to collect people’s dreams about President Trump in order to study what those sometimes disturbing visions are saying about our society.

When athletes share their battle with mental illness

USA Today

Olympic Gold Medal winner and swimmer Allison Schmitt struggled with depression and considered suicide. A decision to quit a race set her on the path to recovery and she is now pursuing a social work degree to help others.

Baltimore Police add crisis response team

Baltimore Sun

The Baltimore Police Department launched a pilot program that enables social workers to go out on calls to help people who may be mentally distressed. The beleaguered department hopes the program will improve community relations.

‘A heroin addict is going to use a needle'” NC program provides clean syringes

Raleigh News and Observer

North Carolina is using a syringe needle program to keep people who are addicted to heroin and other drugs healthier and use the contact to encourage them to seek treatment. One of the counselors is 39-year-old social work student Jesse Bennett, who himself once struggled with addiction.

She grew up hungry. Now she runs the state’s largest anti-poverty program

Press of Atlantic City

Debra Vizzi struggled with poverty, hunger and housing problems while growing up. Then she met a social worker who helped her. Vizzi became a social worker herself and is now president and CEO of the Community Foodbank of New Jersey.

Homeless kids get their Hollywood moment

CityWatch (Los Angeles)

Social worker Heather Carmichael, executive director of My Friend’s Place, works with social services providers and hundreds of volunteers to help homeless children living on the streets of Los Angeles.