Sherry Bryant named NASW Social Worker of the Year for Illinois
From: Suicide Prevention Services,
528 Batavia Ave.,
Batavia, IL 60510
Date: September 1, 2005
What: National Association of Social Worker (NASW) Award—Social Worker of the Year for Illinois
Who: Sherry Bryant, LCSW, CADC, LMFT
- Founding Past Chairperson of SPS Board of Directors
- Founding Past Chairperson of Illinois Suicide Prevention Services Strategic
Planning Committee
- Founding Past Chairperson Suicide Prevention Services, Board of Directors
- Present Chair of Training and Education Workgroup, Illinois Suicide Prevention
Coalition
- Member, Governor’s Appointed Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning
Committee
- Illinois Community Organizer, Suicide Prevention Action Network
Where: Award Ceremonies at Chicago Holiday Inn, Merchandise Mart,
Statewide conference of NASW September 21,2005
When: September 21, 2005
Related feature: World Suicide Prevention Day--September 10, 2005
October 6, 2005--National Depression Screening Day
National Association of Social Work (NASW) has announced winner of the Social Worker of the year 2005 for Illinois, Sherry Bryant, LCSW, CADC, LMFT, Fox Valley Social Worker in private practice in Oswego.
Bryant has been activist for over 12 years for improved mental health and suicide prevention efforts through the state of Illinois and nationally. She has been recognized for her pioneering efforts by other organizations. She was named the winner of the Lyle Oncken Community Service Award from the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services of Aurora in 2002.
She also was given the Everett J. Hageman Volunteerism Award by the Illinois Public Health Association in 2003 and was named the Alumni of the Year in 2004 of Aurora University. The Illinois Suicide Prevention Coalition, facilitated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, presented Ms. Bryant with the first ‘Sherry Bryant’ Volunteer award in September, 2004 for her establishment of the coalition and volunteer work in Illinois to further suicide prevention for all areas.
Bryant commented, “The two main issues facing treatment for suicide prevention is twofold: early detection and adequate treatment. Both of these issues depend on training professionals and citizens in a massive community outreach program.”
Bryant has been the community organizer for Illinois’ efforts to write a comprehensive Strategic Suicide Prevention Plan modeled after the national plan and to implement that plan as well as to advocate for better mental health services in general.
Bryant is a survivor of her son, Todd’s suicide in 1993 and since then has worked tirelessly to improve education for prevention and reduce the stigma of receiving help. “Once suicide touches your family, you know that you can never be the same and the grief energy needs to be constructively directed. Our efforts are fueled mainly by professionals and citizens, alike, who have experience suicide close-up.”
Jennifer Martin, Prevention Specialist, Injury Prevention Division, Illinois Department of Public Health, (IDPH) Springfield, reported, “The strategic planning has gone well in the three years of intense work and some funding has occurred to begin pilot programs offering direct services to more individuals.”
Both agreed that the key is involving all individuals in a common effort in all communities to advocate for more services. Bryant will travel to Washington D.C. September 7-10 to participate in suicide prevention week, speak to congressman about mental health issues, and participate in World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Survivors with pictures of their loved ones will gather at the Lincoln Memorial to stand vigil to the work that being accomplished in the name of their loved ones.
Contact People:
- Jennifer Martin, IDPH
217-558-4081
jmartin2@idph.state.il.us
(State of Illinois’ involvement in suicide prevention and progress made, to date)
- NASW-Illinois
Desiree Goodale—Mikosz 312-236-8308 x-116
(History of the award and why Bryant was chosen)
- Sherry Bryant, LCSW, CADC, LMFT
630-305-9098
sherrybryant44@comcast.net
- Fee Habtes, Division Chief, Injury Prevention Division, IDPH
FHABTES@idph.state.il.us
(Suicide Prevention as an important injury issue)
- Morton Silverman, Editor of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Suicide Prevention Resource Center, Washington D.C.
msilverman@edc.org
(National Plan for Suicide Prevention
World Suicide Prevention Day)
- Dr. David Clark, Rush Presbyterian Hospital
Director of Research
dclark@rush.edu
(Suicide Prevention statistics and research facts)
- www.ilsp.net
Website featuring Illinois Suicide Prevention Efforts
- www.spsfv.org
Website featuring Suicide Prevention Services
- www.suicidology.org
Website of American Association of Suicidology
- www.spanusa.org
Website of Suicide Prevention Action Network
