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Oklahoma
State Senate For Immediate Release: May 6, 2010 Sen. Constance N. Johnson Named Public Official
of the Year The Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-OK) is pleased to name Senator Constance "Connie" Johnson as the 2010 Public Official of the Year. Senator Johnson represents District 48, which covers Oklahoma County. She was first elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 2005. Prior to being elected to the Senate, she served on the Senate Staff for 24 years. Rae Wilson stated in her nomination of Senator Johnson that the Senator "views problems in her district from a social work systems perspective" and "embraces the social work values of integrity and worth." Senator Johnson discovered in one school in her district 60% of students were being parented by grandparents. In her analysis of the problem, she found that the reason for this was the incarceration of one or both parents which prompted Senator Johnson to explore re-entry programs and to organize a legislative criminal justice caucus. Past legislation introduced by Senator Johnson has been focused on such issues as the elimination of wrongful convictions with an ultimate goal of abolishing the death penalty altogether in Oklahoma, the creation of a task force on Mentally Ill and Incarcerated Women, and the creation of an HIV/AIDS task force. She currently serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation, the General Government Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. At the recent Social Work Legislative Day, Senator Johnson spoke to over 130 social work professionals and students about the importance of social work as a career and the importance of social workers being heard regarding issues facing their clients. Senator Johnson also introduced to the Senate a resolution "applauding and supporting the goals and ideals of social workers in this state; recognizing the contributions of individuals who serve their communities through social work; and encouraging young people to seek out educational and professional opportunities to become social workers." NASW-OK commends Senator Johnson for her continued work on behalf of her constituents and all citizens of Oklahoma, and her values and beliefs which are consistent with the profession of social work. For more information, contact:
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