NASW-RI Committees

Addiction Committee

Committee Chairs: Katie Kranz - kkranz@providence.edu & Rosemary Maher - maher9@cox.net


Older Adults Committee

The NASW RI Aging Committee consists of social workers who work with the aging population across the state.  The committee meets on a monthly basis with the goal of staying informed about and being involved in easing the challenges for our elderly population as they age.

Committee Chair: Stacey DeOrsey - Stacey.deorsey@va.gov


PACE Committee

Committee Chair: Gary Cournoyer - gcourno492@cox.net


Policy & Advocacy and Student Leaders Committee

The social work profession was founded in social change. Throughout the profession's history, social workers have sought to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources and opportunities that allow them to meet their basic needs.  NASW upholds the challenge by advocating for the association to members of Congress and regulatory agencies that often hold the authority to influence policy.  To engage BSW and MSW Social Work Students in defining and structuring meaningful opportunities to address critical clinical and social justice issues.  This committee meets once a month and will meet more often during the legislative session that runs from January - June in Rhode Island. 

Committee Chair: Maria Friedman - mariafrdmn@gmail.com


Program Committee

The Program Committee meets once a month to create programming for Rhode Island social workers to get their CE's.  

Contact:  assoc.naswri@socialworkers.org


RI School Social Work Affiliates

Committee Chairs: Jennifer Ahlijanian and Sarai Pellegrino - risswgroup@gmail.com or assoc.naswri@socialworkers.org



Chapter Committee on Nomination and Leadership Identification

Barry Noel (2025)

W1bsn@verizon.net

Barry Noel Portrait

Barry Noel MPA, MSW, LCSW has over 35 years' experience in Child Welfare at Rhode Island DCYF. He is also a per diem social worker at Rhode Island Hospital. Barry was an adjunct social work professor at Providence College. He serves on the Rhode Island Board of Social Work Examiners.










Tiffany Word (2023)

wordwriter444@gmail.com

Tiffany Word Portrait

Tiffany, LCSW is a recent MSW graduate from Rhode Island College in the 2020 macro cohort. She is a Co-Chair of the Nominations and Leadership Committee and is a Policy & Advocacy Committee Member here at the NASW-RI. Tiffany is a current Supportive Services Specialist at ResCare and a Coordinating Research Assistant for the Institute for Education in Healthcare. She is a 2020 Fellow in Women’s Policy Institute.





Nikki Bond (2023)

nikstory@aol.com

Committee page Photo