Lynne Healy, 2014

Abstract

This chapter contains a brief biography and transcript of an interview with Lynne Healy, a leader in American social work education, who was awarded the Katherine Kendall Award of the International Association of Schools of Social Work in 2014, for her contribution to international social work education. Her writings and teaching on international social work, emphasising human rights, are significant. Experience included child welfare, work for the social work professional association and the Council on Social Work Education. Later international work includes work with the United Nations with policy advocacy and the Global social development Agenda. Professional licensing requirements for social workers in the USA emphasise mental health clinical practice, with poor support for wider concerns such as international work in the USA. Academization, with a declining emphasis on professional teaching and activities in academic social work is also unfortunate. Much of her work on human rights focuses particularly on gender issues. In the future, she would like to see social work retrieve a balance between preparing social workers, knowledge development and professional and community activity.