NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Shirley M. Buttrick

Dr. Buttrick’s pioneering effort is her work as a professor of social policy and director of Washington Focus, a Washington-based legislative policy and research program started by the University of Illinois. In Washington, Dr. Buttrick provides field instruction for the University and guidance to students in legislative policy and research programs. She received the MacArthur program grant for women and minorities in international security and foreign policy in 1985 and 1989, and was the Dean of the Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois, Chicago, from 1976-1981. In addition, she was professor and acting director of the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, and visiting professor to the University of Minnesota School of Social Work from the Department of Health Education and Welfare (HEW).

Prior to this work, Dr. Buttrick acted as a liaison to the Minnesota State planning agency under the terms of the inter-government personnel act of 1970 and was a child development specialist in the Office of Child Development in the Department of HEW. She was responsible for collaborating with other personnel for the development of the child care program to be administered by the Office of Child Development. She has also served as the special assistant to the Commissioner for the Community Service Administration Office of Planning and Evaluation, Social Rehabilitations Service, Department of HEW; a supervisor in the University of Minnesota Hospitals; a child welfare worker and consultant with the Jewish Family and Children Service in Minneapolis; an adoptions worker for the Children’s Home Society; and a case worker for the Family Service Bureau with the United Charities in Chicago.

Dr. Buttrick received her bachelor of arts degree from Brooklyn College, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Economics Labor, Social Security and Collective Bargaining, and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in Social Service Administration. In 1969 she received a DSW from Catholic University of America. In addition, she has a certificate from the Harvard University Institute in Educational Management and was a doctoral student in economics at Yale University.

Dr. Buttrick has conducted a variety of research projects nationally and internationally and has written many reports on her research related to various aspects of public welfare. She has also consulted on special assignments for the Child Welfare League of America and the Illinois Chapter, National Association of Social Workers. She was appointed editor-in-chief of the Journal of Social Work Abstracts, a publication of the National Association of Social Workers. Dr. Buttrick received the Hoarse Radcam Fellowship, University of Michigan; and The Ida Noyes Fellowship, University of Chicago. She was elected Phi Beta Kappa from Brooklyn College and Phi Kappa Phi from the University of Michigan.

Social Work Pioneer 1993