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NASW Pioneers Biography Index


The National Association of Social Workers Foundation is pleased to present the NASW Social Work Pioneers®. NASW Pioneers are social workers who have explored new territories and built outposts for human services on many frontiers. Some are well known, while others are less famous outside their immediate colleagues, and the region where they live and work. But each one has made an important contribution to the social work profession, and to social policies through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration, or legislation.

The NASW Pioneers have paved the way for thousands of other social workers to contribute to the betterment of the human condition; and they are are role models for future generations of social workers. The NASW Foundation has made every effort to provide accurate Pioneer biographies.  Please contact us at naswfoundation@socialworkers.org to provide missing information, or to correct inaccurate information. It is very important to us to correctly tell these important stories and preserve our history.  

Please note, an asterisk attached to a name reflects Pioneers who have passed away. All NASW Social Work Pioneers® Bios are Copyright © 2021 National Association of Social Workers Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

    
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Mildred Arnold Photo
Mildred Arnold* (1901-1996)

Mildred Arnold is known for her work with the U.S. Children's Bureau where she had responsibility for the Division of Child Welfare Services for a number of years. There she worked with each state's child welfare services. In this position she was able to develop a network of children's services which included the regional offices of the Federal government and state child welfare agencies. She emphasized the importance of social work educational standards for child welfare staff.

Mildred Arnold received her bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago, and her master's degree from the school of Social Service Administration at the same university. Her first position was working in rural child welfare services in New York state, from 1925 to 1928. Then she became executive secretary of the child welfare division of the Chicago Council of Social Agencies and later executive secretary of the Sangamon County, IU Child Welfare League.

In 1936, she became director of the Children's Bureau to help states develop daycare centers for women working in war industries. She retained with the U.S. Children's Bureau from 1942 until her retirement in the early 1970s. She was active in several of the national profession organizations, including NASW and the American Public Welfare Association. During her tenure at the Children's Bureau she received a Superior Service Award from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. After retirement, she continued to live in Washington, D.C.




Newly Inducted NASW Social Work Pioneer Hortense McClinton 2015

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