The National Association of Social Workers’ Media Awards recognize media professionals who help raise awareness about social work and social work issues.

More than 1,700 social workers and others voted on nominees, more than double the amount of ballots cast last year.

Winners have been notified and will soon receive a formal congratulatory letter and trophy. NASW will also issue a press release on the awards.

Without further ado, the 2013 winners are:

TV Program/Fictional:

“Touch” on Fox. In this fantasy/sci-fi series Gugu Mbatha Raw plays social worker Clea Hopkins, a child development specialist who is trying to help an autistic child with a supernatural gift. http://bit.ly/wb32a8.

Social worker Clea Hopkins (actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw) visits a mute Jake Bohm (actor David Mazouz) at his home on “Touch”. Photo courtesy of Fox.

Documentary:

“My Marriage is Not Threatened by Gay Marriage in NC.” National Association of Social Workers member Thomas “Tab” Ballis and Andy Meyers created this short film in 2012 to protest anti-gay marriage legislation in North Carolina. http://bit.ly/Iuyt2g.

Social worker Chris Weedy and her husband Jimmy Creech are featured in the short film, “My Marriage is Not Threatened by Gay Marriage in NC.” Screenshot from film.

Feature Film:

“The Commitment.” In this short film an interracial gay couple goes through the process of adopting and Asian child and a social worker named Susan (Mary Niederkorn) helps the couple and the birth mother navigate the tricky subjects of race, sexual orientation and outlandish baby names. http://bit.ly/WJPZWy

In “The Commitment” Mary Niederkorn (right) portrays a social worker named Susan who helps a gay couple named Robert (Albert M. Chan) (center) and Ethan (Jason Lane Fenton) try to adopt an infant. Photo courtesy of Albert M. Chan.

TV Program/News:

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” profiled aspiring social worker and track star Latipha Cross, who overcame homelessness, sexual abuse and cancer before getting help to go to college to become a social worker. http://bit.ly/11Qu5Vt.

Latipha Cross. Screenshot courtesy of ESPN.

TV Program/Reality:

“Save My Son” on TVOne features social worker and educator Dr. Steve Perry, who does interventions with youth who are heading for trouble. http://bit.ly/TBnbjM.

Dr. Steve Perry

Magazine and/or Magazine Article:

The New Social Worker Magazine and article “What I Wish I Had Known: Burnout and Self Care in Our Social Work Profession,” by  SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, in the Fall 2012 issue of The New Social Worker Magazine. http://bit.ly/VSnbrH.

A The New Social Worker magazine cover.

 Newspaper Article:

“Emma Donnan Social Worker Speaks Kids’ Language,” by Robert King of the Indianapolis Star, February 2012. Social worker Ross Boushehry has earned a reputation for helping school kids battling poor grades, drug problems and dysfunctional homes and other issues. http://indy.st/ZfCQ4H.

Social worker Ross Boushehry meets with a student. Photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Star.

Column:
“Why it’s good to let boys cry” – Regular Washington Post columnist/blogger and NASW member Jennifer Kogan, MSW, LCSW, wrote about why it is important to let male children express their emotions. http://wapo.st/12wRzPp.

Jennifer Kogan

Best Radio Segment or Program:

“Study: Girls and Boys Who Act Like the Opposite Sex at Risk of Abuse” – Public News Service interviewed NASW Michigan Executive Director Maxine Thome about the need for these children to be protected and for more public education about gender identity. http://bit.ly/zfFfmR.

Maxine Thome

Single Topic Blog:

“Gender Blog” by Darlene Tando, LCSW. Tando’s blog covers issues surrounding gender, including people who are transgender and people who are nonconforming when it comes to gender. http://darlenetandogenderblog.com.

Image courtesy of Gender Blog by Darlene Tando, LCSW.

Website:

inSocialWork Podcast Series, University at Buffalo School of Social Work: This biweekly podcast series features conversations with prominent social work professionals, interviews with cutting-edge researchers, and information on emerging trends and best practices in the field of social work. http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/podcast.

Logo courtesy of inSocialWork website.

Don’t forget last year’s winners! And to learn more about the positive contributions social workers make in our society visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” website.