Jeff Jues

1943 - 2005

Compassionate and dedicated humanitarian

An innovator and inspired leader of the social work profession in California, Jeff Jue touched the lives of many as he played a major role in the development and administration of programs that served the poor, the disabled and those with mental illnesses. Jue was a graduate of San Francisco University during the active protests of the 1960’s receiving his BA in Social Welfare, and his MSW at University of California, Berkeley in 1970. He was in the Air Force from 1962-1966 working in intelligence services.

Jue began his social work career as a case manager for the Community Services Division of the California Department of Mental Health and then became Clinical Services Manager of the County Department of Mental Health in Modesto, California. He then served as the Director of Client Services for the Western Regional Center for Developmentally Disabled in Los Angeles. He subsequently was the Director of Mental Health in Merced, Sonoma, and San Francisco Counties. From 1995-2002 he was the Director of Stanislaus County Community Services Agency where he was recognized for creating innovative community partnerships to serve people in need.

An inspiration to his students, Jue taught classes at University of California, Berkeley and at California State University, Stanislaus in Social Policy and Mental Health Policy. He also taught executive development seminars at University of California Davis Extension, and psychology courses at several other universities.

Jeff Jue’s leadership was called upon throughout his career. His many management roles included President of the California Chapter of National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the California Mental Health Directors Association, and the California Welfare Directors Association. He served on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers and Chaired the NASW Insurance Trust.

He received many awards for his outstanding work including the California chapter NASW Social Worker of the Year in 1981. He received the award from the California Conference of Local Mental Health Directors in 1985 for Outstanding Prevention Programs for work with the Hmong population and he was the Outstanding Alumni of the Year honored by University of California, Berkeley in 1997.

Jeff Jue was always ready for a new experience, even learning to ride a motorcycle for his journeys across the country in his later years. A humanitarian in his leadership, teaching, and his day-to-day work, he has been described as compassionate, family-oriented, funny, occasionally irreverent and dedicated to the people he served.