State Representative Ballweg Receiving Public Service Award

The National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter will present State Representative Joan Ballweg with its 2017 Public Service Award on Tuesday October 24, 2017 at the Madison Marriot Hotel in Middleton, Wisconsin.

NASW WI selected Representative Ballweg for this award for her support for professional autonomy, children’s issues, mental health issues and her bi-partisan approach to legislating.

Representative Ballweg has been an active member of the Assembly Committee on Mental Health for many years. In 2014, she chaired the Legislative Council Steering Committee for Supporting Healthy Early Brain Development. In 2015, she initiated a bi-partisan Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus, which is focused on informing legislative colleagues about and building support for evidence-informed investments in children and families. She continues her involvement with the caucus as one of the four co-chairs for 2017-18. In addition, she is also a member of the Wisconsin Child Abuse Neglect and Prevention Board.

Representative Ballweg is a strong supporter of professional standards and autonomy and has helped NASW WI with legislation to ensure that licensed clinical social workers working with very vulnerable populations have the training and experience they need for this sensitive and challenging work. 

NASW WI also selected Representative Ballweg for this award because of her exemplary approach to legislating.     According to NASW WI Executive Director Marc Herstand,

Representative Ballweg is a role model for a public servant.  She is thoughtful, fair, very intelligent and an excellent listener.  She is a non-ideological problem solver, much needed at the state and national level today.