Local social worker wins state recognition

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Barbara Fujimoto, a social worker at the Hilo Veterans’ Clinic, won a prestigious statewide award at the Hawaii State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers meeting in Honolulu during Social Work Month in March. She was awarded a plaque at a banquet to acknowledge her dedicated work as the “Practitioner of the Year.”

Barbara Fujimoto, a social worker at the Hilo Veterans’ Clinic, won a prestigious statewide award at the Hawaii State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers meeting in Honolulu during Social Work Month in March. She was awarded a plaque at a banquet to acknowledge her dedicated work as the “Practitioner of the Year.”

Her nominator stated, “I have known Barbara Fujimoto since 1984 professionally. She is an outstanding example of what a social worker should be. Barbara has worked at the Veteran’s Primary Clinic as an advocate and case manager for most of her career.

“I have heard many clients under her care state positive comments such as ‘She was an angel… I was in trouble and she helped me get help… she called me after we met and made sure I got the services in my home… I was feeling pretty down but Barbara treated me respectfully and helped me to help myself… Barbara helped me get services so my husband could stay home with me… she genuinely cared about me.’”