National Social Work Month: Celebrating RHA’s Maddie Andrews

March 23, 2026

Did you know March is National Social Work Month? RHA Health Services is so grateful for our passionate and kind social workers! To celebrate National Social Work Month, we’re highlighting Maddie Andrews, a Qualified Professional at RHA’s Facility-Based Crisis Center (FBC) in Alamance, NC.

We are celebrating Maddie because she recently received the Kelly Spangler Student Award from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) North Carolina Chapter. The Kelly Spangler Student Award provides an annual monetary award and NASW membership to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students seeking a career in public health, health care and/or integrated health care social work. This award honors the legacy of Kelly Spangler, a dedicated NASW member and public health social worker, who advocated for social work in public health and enhancements to service delivery at North Carolina Health Departments.

Maddie is an MSW student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is honored by NASW-NC for her commitment to accessible mental health care. She has used her lived experience to form a mental health-based nonprofit that offers free and accessible support groups, and she does extensive public speaking to spread mental health education and awareness. She is dedicated to advocacy, policy, social justice, and community engagement. Maddie has worked tirelessly to be a voice for the voiceless and towards a world where there is no stigma around mental illness.

Maddie joined RHA in September 2025 as a peer support specialist at the FBC. Within four months, she was promoted to Qualified Professional, and she is planning to do her final practicum internship for her Master of Social Work (MSW) program with RHA.

When asked what she loves about her work, Maddie says, “I am extremely passionate about building healing communities, advocating, developing relationships in the community, and allowing individuals to have equitable, accessible, and affordable care. I love fighting for social justice. I believe all individuals deserve to be treated equitably. Being a social work advocate allows me to ensure all individuals are treated this way. I also love being a voice of change regarding behavioral health. I speak openly around the world, sharing my story, and educational information, to help break down stigma. This part of social work advocacy is something I am extremely passionate about.”

Maddie’s passion for mental health is evident both inside and outside of her work with RHA. She spearheaded a large-scale simulation event in collaboration with Trillium Health Resources and community partners in Randolph County, and she hosts a podcast dedicated to reducing stigma around mental health disorders.

Maddie’s favorite memories with RHA come from watching individuals begin their recovery journeys and make personal progress. She says she is inspired by the people she supports and “cherishes the memories of watching them transform their lives.” FBC Program Manager Marti Webb says, “Maddie embodies RHA’s mission in action, and her lived experience is a living example of our tagline, ‘Where Humans Bloom.’”

Please join us in congratulating Maddie Andrews on her achievements and thanking her for her commitment to bettering the lives of the people we serve!

Are you inspired by Maddie’s story? Would you or someone you know make a great RHA behavioral health professional? Learn more and apply today at rhajobs.com!