County social worker honored for years of dedication to social services
RaNae Whitbeck, social worker with the Koochiching County Community Services, recently received an award for work in the social services and for a statewide social service organization.
She received the Individual Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Social Service Association.
Whitbeck was nominated by John Moline, director of youth and children services for Lutheran Social Service. He said he nominated her for her years of service and years of leadership to the MSSA and social services.
Whitbeck has been a member of the organization for 32 years.
A total of 10 awards were given in the MSSA this year, he noted. Whitbeck received her award at an assembly of what Moline described as thousands of members at a general session in Minneapolis on Friday.
He said he told her about the award ahead of time to ensure that she would be available to accept the award at the organization’s Annual Training Conference and Expo.
Other awards include: outstanding staff achievement, outstanding student, community collaboration, volunteer service, foster care and outstanding retiree.
There are 3,300 members in MSSA statewide. Whitbeck won a similar regional award in October, and was then recommended for the state award based on her accomplishment at the regional level.
“She is steadfast, brilliant, friendly and kind,” Moline wrote in a letter nominating Whitbeck for the award. “
Whitbeck is known for serving in many MSSA regional leadership positions through the years, Moline said. He described her long history of attending and helping organize MSSA regional and state conferences.
“RaNae was instrumental in many of those great conferences,” Moline wrote, noting that she not only attends, but participates in activities, even donning costumes when appropriate.
“At a time when cuts were coming on social services, she went above and beyond to make the connection with MSSA,” Moline said.
Whitbeck has worked for the county community service department since 1978. She has been involved in the MSSA since that time as well.
Much of Whitbeck’s work is with the elderly in adult protection and similar programs. She is the only day care licenser the county has ever had.
She has a case load of 40 adults and 27 day care homes.
“It’s the peak of my career. It makes me want to strive and do that much better,” Whitbeck told The Journal.
Whitbeck is the first local recipient of the award; but she has nominated several of her foster care providers for regional and state awards in the past.
MSSA provides training and education for people involved in the social services throughout Minnesota. The organization is based in St. Paul. The MSSA also lobbies at the state level for the various groups that state social service programs serve.
“I’m really passionate about them,” Whitbeck said of the MSSA.
