NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Val Maguire Keating (1901-1991)

Val Maguire-Keating is known for her leadership in the southwest for the Bureau of Public Assistance. She remained the regional representative from the beginning of the regional organization for the Bureau of Public Assistance and worked in all the southwest states - New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and others. She was particularly concerned about professional education and provided leadership to state departments of public welfare as they moved into implementations of the Social Security Act provisions for aid to families with dependent children, blind, disabled and others. She was considered a leader by her colleagues during that time. Ms. Maguire-Keating was born in Minnesota.

She received her social work degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in the early 30s. Her job, after leaving school, was to head up the El Paso Family Services Agency. She later became the Director of the El Paso County Board of Rehabilitation and the Texas Relief Commission. She was active in establishing the public welfare programs and participated in planning WPA, CCC, and NYA.