Alyce Benson
The National Association of Social Workers of Tennessee have voted Alyce Benson the 2014 State of Tennessee “Social Worker of the Year”. This NASW-TN award recognizes a high-achieving social worker each year who is a leaders in his or her community and who fully embodies social work values and ethics.
Ms. Benson has 18 years of Social Worker experience under her belt and a surprisingly large number of impactful outcomes to show for it. Over her tenure, Ms. Benson has served as a case manager, independent support coordinator, family liaison, assistant director of TN-START program, social skills training coordinator, and a Multi-specialty LCSW who treats individuals of all ages who have developmental disabilities. She currently holds the title of Clinical Director of the Chattanooga Autism Center.
Ms. Benson’s service has affected thousands of people and her work achievements are many. She has developed and coordinated dozens of programs from multi-million dollar grant projects and huge annual conferences to small adult social and support groups and sibling clubs. One of her biggest impacts was her tireless work in building the Chattanooga Autism Center alongside a team of parents, advocates, and other clinicians. Her planning and coordinating skills and her hundreds of volunteer work were critical for turning a small but promising program into a widely utilized and much-loved 501c3 nonprofit.
Ms. Benson’s connection with her clients along with her availability and support is unmatched. Her therapy skills as licensed clinical social worker are stellar and unique; her clients are of all ages and she specializes in treating people with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities.
Ms. Benson helps her clients have confidence in themselves and come to understand their potential and self-worth. She teaches parents to be advocates for their kids. Her adult clients increase their self-esteem as they improve their social skills and learn how their differences are not necessarily deficits.
Ms. Benson’s abilities and accomplishments are magnified by the fact that she is a wife and a mother of two young girls. Ms. Benson often volunteers at her kids’ schools and totes them to gymnastics and karate every week after picking them up from school.
Officials said, "The volunteers and staff at the Chattanooga Autism Center are very proud of Alyce Benson."
Ms. Benson will be presented with the award at the War Memorial Auditorium on March 26, during “Social Worker Day on the Hill” in Nashville.