NASW member Stephanie Johnstone, of San Diego, received the annual Robert W. Whitlock Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Kidney Foundation’s Council of Nephrology Social Workers.

Johnstone has been the lead social worker for Fresenius Medical Care North America’s West Division.

During more than 30 years at Fresenius Medical Care North America, Johnstone has developed numerous innovative programs designed to improve care for kidney patients. She has also inspired and mentored her colleagues to advance the field of nephrology social work toward disease management.

“Throughout her career, Stephanie has displayed that rare combination of exceptional skill in engaging with both patients and colleagues, and a visionary thinking style,” said Carolyn Latham, FMCNA’s corporate vice president of clinical services. “With our Social Work Intensive program, she empowered nephrology social workers to use their clinical skills and training to improve patients’ quality of life, while also helping her peers achieve their professional potential and increase their career satisfaction.”

“I am both honored and humbled to receive the Robert W. Whitlock Lifetime Achievement Award,” Johnstone said in a statement. “Obviously, it takes a dedicated team to continuously and steadily improve the quality of life of those with kidney disease, and I owe much of my success to the commitment and hard work of so many of my colleagues.”

In addition to her work at FMCNA, Johnstone has been a research consultant on nephrology studies, evaluating strategies for treating depression and improving quality of life for dialysis patients. She also designed a National Kidney Foundation intervention campaign to enhance dialysis adherence, which was released nationally as “Living Longer, Living Better.”

Johnstone has been active with the NKF’s Council of Nephrology Social Workers by serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Nephrology Social Work, and as chairwoman of the San Diego CNSW chapter.

NASW member Patricia Nance received the Arlington County, Virginia, Manager’s Excellence Award for her work on the 100 Homes initiative, which is also a national and state campaign.

County officials said Nance, who works in the county’s Aging and Disability Services Division, and the 100 Homes team, work tirelessly to ensure that older residents who are homeless have the opportunity for a new beginning.

The initiative is Arlington County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. It is part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign and the statewide 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians initiative.

The local effort kicked off in October 2012 when 150 volunteers and civic leaders hit the streets before dawn to survey and register homeless persons living on the streets of Arlington. Since then, outreach workers, shelter and housing providers, mental health and substance-abuse specialists and others have worked diligently to track members, assign them a lead worker and bring them off the streets.

As of May 22, the campaign has helped transform the lives of 95 vulnerable homeless persons by connecting them with permanent housing.