Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

236 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine HEALTH AND WELLNESS W hile in college, Jacqueline I. Wert developed a strong interest in social services, psychosocial issues and helping others. In 1964, she received a BS in psychology from the University of Iowa, and later, an MSW from the University of Illinois’ Jane Addams School of Social Work in 1974. Ms. Wert also obtained a certificate from the Family Institute at Northwestern University and in medical billing and coding from the Harry S. Truman College of Continuing Education. Since 1993, Ms. Wert has maintained her own private practice, having formerly served Grove Counseling Associates in Chicago on a part-time basis between 1982 and 1993. For more than 30 years between 1969 and 2002, she excelled as a child welfare worker for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in Chicago, where she specialized in child foster and residential treatment care. At the inception of her career in 1964, she was a nursing assistant at the Iowa Psychopathic Hospital for one year, and for three years afterwards, she was a caseworker in public assistance for the Cook County Department of Public Assistance. At the time of Ms. Wert’s work, there was a great amount of children being born with drug addictions and/or were abandoned by their mothers, which immediately put them into the adoption system. The highlight of Ms. Wert’s career has been any time she was able to find permanent homes for children in the adoption program, which she cites was rewarding and fulfilling work. For her unmatched service in the field of social work, Ms. Wert was the recipient of the Director’s Award from the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in 1989. Additionally, she was given certificates of recognition for team performance in 1998 and 2000. A presenter in her field for more than 35 years, Ms. Wert is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and the National Association of Social Work. In her free time, she enjoys photography, crafts, dancing and hiking. Looking forward, she intends to experience the continued growth and success of her career. JACQUELINE I. WERT, MSW, LCSW LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER Chicago, IL