Frequently Asked Questions

About Us

  • The California Social Work Hall of Distinction, or “HOD”, is a program of the California Social Welfare Archives (CSWA) that honors social workers who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare of individuals and communities in California, and to the profession of social work. Each year, CSWA’s HOD Committee selects a cohort of social workers to be honored during the Annual Induction Ceremony held in the Fall. There are currently over 130 social workers who have been inducted into the HOD.

  • Our class of 2025 nominees has now been closed, but every year, a Hall of Distinction Nomination form is produced and launched digitally for individuals to submit their forms, supplementary materials, and recommendation letters. Please submit individuals whom you would like to nominate, as although they might not be inducted in one year, they might be considered in future years. The individual can even be nominated for the “Hall of Distinction Legacy Award” for those who did not receive recognition in their lifetime.

  • The board of directors are all volunteers experienced and decorated individuals who represent different aspects of the field of Social Welfare (Social Workers, Librarians, Archivists, and Community Leaders). They are inducted after a nomination process, conducted interview, and subsequent voting by the current board in accordance with the current By-laws. For their names, headshots, and brief descriptions, please check out our “Our Team” page.

Get Involved

  • We are so pleased to hear that you are interested in donating your time and talents to the California Social Welfare Archives! Please head over to our “Committees” page, locate “Membership”, where you can download our Volunteer form, and submit it to our Membership committee, who will then take the next step of following up with you.

  • Please join us in building the CSWA Operations Fund to ensure long-term support for the California Social Welfare Archives so we can continue providing year long programming, such as our California Social Work Hall of Distinction, George Nickel Awards, and scholarships for social work students and researchers as well as production costs associated with the collection of Oral Histories.

    Donations are processed by USC. All proceeds go directly to the CSWA Operations Fund. Your generosity ensures that we continue to honor those involved in bringing about the betterment of society and to ensure that the contributions of social work leaders, innovators, and pioneers will be recognized, studied, and preserved for the future. Any size gift is welcome and important.

    Donate online using the Give Now button with a credit card, or by check, made payable to CSWA-USC and mailed to:

    “CSWA

    USC Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

    669 W 34th St., Los Angeles CA 90089”

    To discuss pledges, estate planning, and other gifting options, please contact our Program Office Monday through Friday 10am-3:30pm

    You can also text-to-give, by texting CSWAHOD to 41444.