Dr. Anita Sharma, associate professor of social work at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, recently received dual honors.

Sharma earned a “Leadership Recognition” award in gerontology by the Baccalaureate Program Directors' Association, a national organization for social work educators.

She has also been elected as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana.

Dr. Jeffrey Cass, dean of the ULM College of Arts and Sciences, was not surprised that Sharma received such high tribute. “Anita Sharma represents the kind of faculty member the ULM community loves to support—committed to her field and to her students. As a professional in social work, Dr. Sharma adheres to the highest of standards, and she subscribes to the noblest of ideals, that of assisting those in distress, alleviating their pain, and carrying them through hardship.”

According to its Web site, Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana, Inc. is a network of families in the Northeast Louisiana area who, because of their own experiences, became committed to reaching out to others who have relatives with special needs.

Sharma said it was an honor to be granted such responsibility in an organization “that embodies everything good about our community. Families Helping Families reaches out to assist and empower individuals with disabilities and their families. Through its various interventive and proactive programs, it endeavors to take away the implication of ‘handicap’ from the word ‘disability.’"

The organization is located in Monroe and serves the 12 parishes that comprise Region 8 - Ouachita, Richland, Franklin, Caldwell, Tensas, East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, Union, Morehouse, Jackson, and Lincoln. While each Families Helping Families center is regionally based and therefore different in approach, each one is able to maintain its mission and vision by being a member of Families Helping Families of Louisiana. For more information, go to: www.fhfnela.org/.