The recipient of the Canadian Association of Social Workers Distinguished Service Award for 2019 is Mona Romaine Elliott MSW, RSW. This award recognizes her significant contribution to the social work profession.
Mona holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work degree from Memorial University. Over the past 35 years, she has contributed substantially to both management and clinical practice primarily in youth corrections, mental health/ addictions and long-term care.
Mona began her career in 1984 with the Waterford Hospital in St. John’s before moving to the Department of Social Services where she worked as a social worker in Bonavista and as the Regional Coordinator in Harbour Grace. In 1994, Mona was hired as the first Mental Health Therapist with the Bonavista Health Care Complex. She proceeded to develop and expand the community based mental health program in that community becoming the Regional Director of Community Mental Health. Her work during this time led to her unofficial title as the “Founding mother of mental health services in Bonavista”. She expanded the scope of her responsibilities when she became the Director of Integrated Community Health Services responsible for all community-based services within the Pennisulas region. Mona then proceeded to a commitment to long term care services in the province through the positions of Program Manager and Director of Long Term Care. She recently retired from the position of Regional Director, Long Term Care, Eastern Health, a position which she held for the past two years.
Mona has provided leadership within the social work professional community. She served as the President of NLASW from 2014-2016 and spent a total of seven years on the board of directors serving initially as Eastern Representative then President Elect (2012-2014) and Past President (2016-2018). She has been a field instructor for both MSW and BSW students at the Memorial University School of Social Work and a mentor to many social workers.
Mona has been active in community initiatives especially in the areas of violence prevention and youth corrections. She served as the co-chair of the Eastern Region Committee Against Violence for several years. She developed the Bonavista Area Alternative Measures program and has been a leader and mediator with Youth Justice Committees for over twenty years. She also found time to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross Disaster Management program.
Throughout her various capacities, Mona is a social worker with a strong sense of identity with and passion for this profession. She is a true leader who exemplifies social work values on a daily basis. In addition to her excellent social work skills, competence and knowledge, Mona brings warmth, compassion and humour.
Social workers in Newfoundland and Labrador congratulate and extend best wishes to Mona Romaine Elliott, recipient of the 2019 Canadian Association of Social Workers Distinguished Service Award for this province.