Janlee Wong
A passionate and tireless advocate for the social work profession
Janlee Wong received his MSW from San Francisco State University and his BA in Asian Studies from Claremont McKenna College. He retired after 25 years as Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers (NAW), California Chapter. He was NASW's first Asian American Chapter Executive from the mainland, often recognized by his national peers by being selected as their elected representative. Prior to NASW, Wong served in the San Diego County Chief Administrative Office, as the Public Conservator, and as Chief of Adult Protective Services. He was also a healthcare consultant and a budget examiner for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C.
During Wong's tenure at NASW-CA, membership grew significantly. He worked on many social justice and anti-racism efforts, including expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in NASW's national and statewide leadership and membership, increasing professional development education focused on practice and policy in communities of color, and promoting progressive legislation that expanded racial and social justice reforms. He oversaw over 25 state conferences, annual Chapter Lobby Days, the growth of the Chapter's political action committee, and more than 500 continuing education workshops.
Wong has been a fierce advocate for the social work profession for over 25 years. He served on the NASW Presidential Initiative on Diversity, NAW Ethics panels, the Boards of Directors for the Council on Social Work Education and the California Social Work Education Center, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and several schools of social work advisory boards. He represented NAW and professional social work on numerous other national, state, and local boards, committees, and commissions, including leading a national redesign of NASW governance and standard-setting. Throughout this busy schedule of meetings and appearances, Wong maintained a commitment to promptly answering nearly every message and inquiry that came to him in person, via phone, email, or postal routes.
Wong's generous passion for social work was unmatched. He contributed to the education of social work students lectured at hundreds of social work courses and program orientations to uplift the importance of ethics, commitment, and best practices. He served as a field instructor for over 75 social work student interns from a variety of schools, and a mentor and role model to numerous members who sought his guidance. The Chapter, under Wong's leadership, participated in vigorous negotiations to pass legislation to ban conversion therapy for minors, acted in coalitions to successfully lobby voters to pass the Mental Health Services Act, and supported the state effort for Medicaid expansions before and after The Affordable Care Act.