Janet Greathouse Advocacy Writing Contest
The Joyce Greathouse Advocacy Writing Contest was established in 2011 as part of an effort to engage students at the University of Montevallo in social welfare policy and political advocacy in the State of Alabama.
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About Ms. Joyce Greathouse
Joyce Greathouse was born February 21, 1935, in the little community of Saco, Pike County, Alabama. She began school at the age of 5 at Inverness, attended several schools in Alabama, graduating as valedictorian from Tuskegee Elementary School and Gadsden High School. She attended Alabama College (University of Montevallo) on an Honors Scholarship with a major in Social Work and minor in Political Science, graduating in 1956, with honors. While at Montevallo she was a member of the Student Senate, Alpha Lambda Delta, Mu Delta Alpha, Baptist Student Union, Sociology Club, Theatre Council, YWCA, and Orchesis, and was active in College Night (purple) and other campus activities. She began her social work career in Sept 1956 as a caseworker at Children’s Aid Society in Birmingham. While on educational leave she attended the University of Tennessee, School Of Social Work, receiving her MSSW in 1962. Returning to Children’s Aid, she worked as Supervisor and Director of Social Services before becoming Executive Director in 1977. She retired from Children’s Aid Society in 1997.
Throughout her career Joyce has been an advocate for child welfare and social justice. She attributes her interest in government to the good fortune of having political science classes under Dr. Hallie Farmer at Montevallo and parents who were interested in history, geography, current events, and politics. She believes that social workers have a unique opportunity and role to play in identifying and influencing programs, policies, and laws that affect our clients and the most vulnerable among us. As chair of NASW PACE she was instrumental in the establishment of NASW PACE Student Advocacy Day. At Montevallo she hopes the Advocacy Award will motivate social work students to become knowledgeable about issues and active as advocates.
Contest Winners 2013:
First Place: Justin Vest for Home Rule in Alabama
Second Place: Katherine Robertson for The Student Harassment Prevention Act.
Contest Winners 2012:First Place: Natasha Langner for Alabama’s 2011 Immigration Law
Second Place: Jennifer Colacurto for Drug Testing and Social Welfare Assistance
For more information about the contest, please contact:
Dr. Laurel Iverson Hitchcock
Director and Assistant Professor of Social Work
University of Montevallo
lhitchcock@montevallo.edu
205-665-6180