February is Black History Month—a time to honor the Black leaders and pioneers who have shaped the health and human services field. Their dedication to equity and inclusion has strengthened communities and expanded access to care, leaving a lasting impact that continues to drive progress today.
As we celebrate their legacies, we also recognize the advocates, caregivers, and changemakers within our communities that continue to shape the health and well-being of generations to come.
Claudia L. Gordon
Disability Rights Advocate
Claudia L. Gordon, Esq. is a dedicated advocate for disability rights and inclusion. As the first Deaf Black woman to become an attorney in the United States, she has been a powerful voice for accessibility, workplace equality, and anti-discrimination policies.
Through her leadership in both government and advocacy organizations, Gordon continues to break barriers and champion a more inclusive society for people with disabilities.
"It is uplifting when you are able to empower another."
George Edmund Haynes
First Black Social Worker
George Edmund Haynes was an influential sociologist, educator, and civil rights leader. As co-founder of the National Urban League, Haynes was a trailblazer in social work, advocating for better social and economic conditions for Black Americans. He believed deeply in community-driven change.
Dr. Ruby M. Gourdine
Advocate for Child Welfare
Dr. Gourdinewas a trailblazer in social work whose research and advocacy have shaped policies in child welfare, education, and racial equity. With decades of dedication to advancing social justice, her work has uplifted communities and strengthened support systems for marginalized populations.
“Children deserve not just to be safe, but to thrive in environments that respect and celebrate their identities."
🆕Quick Access 'Program History' Button
A new Program History button is now available in the Client Info menu, making it easier than ever to access a client’s full program journey! With just one click, a popup window appears, organizing program details into Active, Past, and All tabs. This streamlined view provides a clear snapshot of the client's programs, statuses, and key dates. Plus, for users with Program History Corrections access, a direct link will appear, allowing for quick and seamless updates.
Join us for an in-depth session on AWARDS ReportBuilders, where you'll learn how to create fully customized reports that showcase your organization's work with clients, staff, and program structures. We’ll guide you through saving and reusing reports, plus how to schedule them for delivery to your AWARDS inbox. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your reporting capabilities!
The AWARDS Waiting Lists feature allows users to efficiently place clients from a source program onto a list for admission into a destination program. These lists can be tailored with specific criteria such as age, gender, diagnosis, or life circumstances. Join us for a session where we will demonstrate how to configure a Waiting List, add clients, and remove them—either through admission or deletion—across various locations within the Intake/Admission and Profile modules.
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