The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) named Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, as the 2024 National Social Worker of the Year. This national recognition follows Crafts’ earlier honor as Maine’s Social Worker of the Year by the NASW Maine chapter. 

"I am deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to all social workers for their dedication, empathy and compassion in serving those in need," said Crafts. "Social workers form the foundation of healthy and resilient communities. This session, I've had the privilege of working with many outstanding advocates to ensure social workers have the resources they need. However, there is still much more to be done, and I look forward to continuing this work."

NASW recognized Crafts for her outstanding dedication to social justice, innovative legislative initiatives and unwavering commitment to the health and welfare of Maine's most vulnerable populations. Crafts has sponsored and cosponsored several pieces of legislation this year to support social workers, including the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact, which has been enacted in Maine, amending the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program, repealing limitations on social workers’ ability to diagnose certain mental illnesses and establishing programming to enhance behavioral health supports for students in public schools. 

Rep. Crafts is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Monhegan Island. She is the House chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.