 In the late 1990's, the Board of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Ohio Clinical Social Work Society, now the Ohio River Valley Clinical Social Work Society, established the Judith R. Holm Excellence in Training Award, to honor this exemplary clinical social worker. The award is given to a graduating MSW student who excels in direct practice during the field placement experience. Field instructors are asked to make nominations based on the following criteria:
The student....
- Shows a clear commitment to ethical clinical practice.
- Demonstrates outstanding ability to conceptualize the multiple factors
that influence behavior and is able to formulate assessments that are
sensitive to the individual, clearly using theory as a basis for understanding.
- Demonstrates creativity in the helping process, and is an independent thinker.
- Demonstrates an interest in the larger issues of clinical practice.
- Overcame significant obstacles to complete the graduate program, thereby
demonstrating a commitment to the social work field.
The Ohio River Valley Clinical Social Work Society plans to continue the granting of this award each Spring, thereby honoring the memory of Judith Holm.
IN MEMORY OF JUDITH HOLM:
A NATIONAL LEADER IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
Judith Holm, the first president of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work and a well-known national leader in the field of clinical social work, died in Cleveland on March 4, 1995, after a long illness. She was 57.
Judith received her Master of Social Sciences from the UCLA School of Social Work in 1963. Her early years of direct practice were with children and families at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute within the Department of Psychiatry. She later became chief social worker at Athens State Hospital in Ohio. After moving to Cleveland in 1968, she became chief social worker for adult psychiatry at Case Western Reserve’s University Hospitals and later chief psychiatric social worker at St. Luke’s Hospital. During this time, Judith was a clinical instructor for students from Smith and the Case Western Reserve School for Applied Social Services. In the late 1970's, Judith began a private practice in Cleveland. She maintained that practice even as she took on more responsibilities for the larger world of clinical social work.
Judith Holm was a founding member of the Ohio Clinical Social Work Society and served as Membership Chair and Licensing and Legislative Chair, and was President of the Society from 1977-1979. As president of the Ohio Society, Judith attended National Federation meetings and soon made her mark there. She helped lead the Federation as it strengthened clinical social work standards, and she acted on her conviction that clinical social work needed special recognition. The National Registry of Health Care Providers in Clinical Social Work was developed to establish a national clinical social work credential. As President of the Registry, Judith often navigated conflicting political forces determined that there be one organization that was independent and representative of the best in clinical social work. As competing groups came together,
the ABE was incorporated in October, 1987. In addition to the advanced credentialing of clinical social workers (The Diplomate), the ABE Board focuses on promoting clinical social work skills to managed care firms.
After retiring from her work with the ABE in June, 1991, Judith continued her active clinical practice in Cleveland. Judith died after a long struggle with cancer. After her death a fellow social worker wrote, “As a therapist she dared to stay with her clients as they faced their fears, resistances, and inner turmoils. She dared to confront her own feelings, too. As successful as she became, she never shrank from sharing her vulnerability. Judith Holm was open and warm, slightly flaky, a tough woman determined to achieve a place for clinical social work. She was there when the profession needed vision and leadership.”
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