Jane M. Hoey (1892-1968)

Jane M. Hoey's major contribution to social work was in the establishment and enforcement of standards in public welfare administration. The daughter of Irish immigrants, she was born in Greeley County, Nebraska, USA. After receiving an MA in political science from Colombia University and a diploma from the New York School of Philanthropy in 1916, she began working for Harry Hopkins at the New York Board of Child Welfare. Employed by the American Red Cross, she later became secretary of the Bronx Committte of the New York Tuberculosis and Health Association. She helped organize the Health Division of the New York Welfare Council and became its assistant director in 1926. A combination of familiy and administrative experience helped acquiant her with the political world. Her political skills were helpful in negotiations with US government officials and in program interpretation when she served as a delegate to the United Nations.

Jane M. Hoey later became the director of social research for the National Tuberculosis Association and served as president of the National Conference of Social Work, the Council on Social Work Education, and the William J. Kerby Foundation. The Jane M. Hoey Chair in Social Policy was established by the Colombia Univeristy School of Social Work. Between 1931 and 1953, Hoey published a number of articles related to government policy and welfare.

Larraine M. Edwards
(Encyclopedia of Social Work, NASW Press)

Jane M. Hoey bequeathed some of her fortune to IFSW. The money was put into a Solidarity Fund, which is used to provide support for social work development in poorer countries or facilitate participation in IFSW Conferences for social workers from target countries.
At IFSW World and Regional Conferences a Jane Hoey Fund Auction is always hold to raise funds for IFSW's solidarity work.