NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Jane Bierdeman-Fike

Jane Bierdeman-Fike graduated Magna Cum Laude from Maryville College in 1944 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1949 she received her MSW from the School of Social Service, St. Louis University. She has worked as a social worker in the area of mental health for fifty years. Her first job was as a case worker for the St. Louis Welfare Office and she has been continuously employed since that time as a social worker in many different places. Since 1962 she has been the Director of Psychiatric Social Work at Fulton State Hospital. As director she advocated for the vulnerable and often unheard residents at Fulton State. She has been a role model and mentor for other social workers working with this population and she has been a great teacher to students all over the state and the United States as a practicum supervisor. Jane believes that those who are oppressed with mental illness need to have a voice and she has taught this and lived this belief as a lecturer at William Woods University, University of Missouri School of Social Work in Columbia, George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University and the School of Social Service at Saint Louis University.

Prior to being asked to take on the responsibility as Director of Psychiatric Social Work, Jane was a casework supervisor and a psychiatric social worker at St. Louis State Hospital. She has been working with people with mental health needs since 1955. She doesn't just work with them, she lives for them. Every activity she chooses to participate in she does because she believes it will better their lot in life.

She is a role model of all role models and social workers across Missouri feel blessed to have worked with her. She is honest, sensitive and caring, and on top of all of that, she knows her practice and stays current with practice trends. Jane is a rare practitioner who believes in writing up and presenting her practice experiences and interventions. She has several published articles and has also received several grants.

Jane not only served Fulton State Hospital, she served community. She was a "Pioneer" in getting the Missouri Chapter started. This involved gaining the collaboration of several different social work groups within the state. She served as First Vice President of the Missouri Chapter and served as President of the Missouri Chapter for two terms.

In 2005 she received NASW's Lifetime Achievement Award. She had previously received the Social Worker of the Y ear Award by the Missouri Chapter NASW (1995) ; the Honorary Alumni Award, University of Missouri-Columbia for contributions to School of Social Work College of Human Environmental Sciences (1991), the Alumni Merit Award, Saint Louis University of Social Service (1991); Plaque of Appreciation, Social Work Program,( William Woods University, (1990); Executive of the Year Award, University of Missouri School of Social Work, Columbia, (1988); and the Recipient of Alumni Professional Achievement Award, Maryville College, St. Louis, (1971).