Service awards resume

Janet Hartman

Executive director, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling

Nominator: Jamie Buller, chair of the Florida board at time of nomination

Buller opened with some statistics about the Florida board, saying: “Janet is executive director for six regulatory boards and administrator for two other department of health licenses. The social work board oversees more than 44,000 licensees.” She went on to describe how Janet’s strengths from previous experience in state law enforcement keeps the board “in line and on task.” In closing, Buller commented, “Janet has the ability to create strong relationships among groups, within professions, and with stakeholders. She is full of grace and has a positive energy that resonates with everyone around her.”

Excerpts from the nomination:

• Janet is intensely passionate about our role [as regulators] and she works tirelessly to ensure we function ethically and effectively.
• Janet ensures a fair and responsible process of legal regulation through completion and execution of final orders, evaluation of disciplinary cases, review of existing laws for necessary and recommended revisions, tracking legislative bills, completes bill analysis of filled bills related to the board, completes a detailed legislative implementation plan, and ensures streamlined implementation of laws.
• Janet has the same vision and dedication [as Glenda McDonald] to position those in the counseling professions as leaders and skilled professionals through her educational outreach efforts in universities, community groups and organizations, and professional associations.

Excerpts from Janet Hartman’s remarks:

I want to express my gratitude to the best board in the United States and Canada. … It is most important for me to honor the memory of Glenda McDonald. I heard many wonderful things about her. It’s a tremendous honor to earn recognition that bears her name.

This recognition means more to me than I can share today. Serving as the executive director of the Florida board has been a tremendously rewarding experience, particularly as the need for mental health providers intensified over the last few years. The Florida board was engaged, proactive, and responsive to the needs of Florida licensees and to the public. It was truly an honor to help guide them during this time.

Hartman recently accepted a new role as chief of health care regulation in Florida, where she will have oversight of 22 boards. She noted: “I will continue to hold social work regulation as a priority.”

Hoon Kim

Registration services manager, British Columbia College of Social Workers

Nominator: Mark Hillenbrand, registrar and CEO

Hillenbrand first met Kim when applying for registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Thinking back to that first interaction, Hillenbrand said, “I had no idea how I would come to appreciate Hoon Kim and his calm, efficient, and effective work style.” Hillenbrand then gave examples of Kim’s efficiency, noting: “In early 2020, when asked to assist with transitioning staff to work from home,” Hillenbrand continued, “his response was ‘Let’s see what’s possible.’ By that afternoon, he had a plan in place for staff to start working from home the next day.”

At that time and in all other situations, Hillenbrand said, Kim has found a path forward. In the almost seven years that Kim has been with the college, said Hillenbrand, “there have been innumerable examples of Hoon facing challenges with a calm, logical, and determined problem-solving approach.”

Excerpts from the nomination:

• Hoon has led the College through a 60% increase in applications and registration workload over the course of just a few years with no additional staff, yet with apparent ease and notable positivity.
• Hoon’s participation in decision making processes results in decisions that are consistent, transparent, fair, based on fact and within accepted interpretation of the law. Hoon Kim steadily promotes the highest ethical standards, along with the responsible and effective functioning of College operations and its registration processes.
• Mr. Kim is well regarded for his knowledge and understanding of regulation with members of the government, the profession, and the public.

Excerpts from Hoon Kim’s remarks:

I am honored to be receiving this award. It was totally unexpected. I am truly humbled and grateful to have my work recognized in this way by ASWB. This accomplishment is not something I deserve by myself because many others deserve to share in this award. …The work of social work regulation can oftentimes be challenging. An award like this gives one the opportunity to positively reflect upon years of social work regulation and realize how important and meaningful their work is.