Hon. Melbourne Moran, Jr. (SSW’14) Named Social Worker of the Year by NASW-NH
Hon. Melbourne R. Moran, Jr., LICSW, an alumnus of Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW), was named the 2024 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers New Hampshire Chapter (NASW-NH).
A 2014 graduate of BUSSW’s Master of Social Work Program, Melbourne is the chief clinical officer and founder of Wanderlust Therapeutic Services, a psychotherapy and counseling service based in Nashua, New Hampshire. A self-described “Mom and Pop counseling shop,” Wanderlust began as a forensic social service agency and expanded to offer outpatient counseling in 2020. The agency now has over 30 clinical staff, social service advocates, students, and administrators, and provides mental health care to over 1,500 clients between its counseling and forensic divisions.
In his role at Wanderlust, Moran applies his trade working with children, families and adults involved in the court system where he has been qualified as an expert in mental health, addiction, social services, and LGBTQ+ issues. He utilizes evidence-based outcome measures and validated tools to produce pre- and post-release plans to the courts that seek to apply the least restrictive setting for the person with the goal of court diversion and reducing recidivism.
Moran also has a distinguished career in civil service. He currently serves as alderman-at-large for the City of Nashua and chairman of its Planning & Economic Development Committee. He also served as a state representative for Hillsborough District 34 and Nashua Ward 7 from 2020-2022. As a state representative, he advanced legislation into law that strengthened the mental health system and protected the rights of LGBTQ+ people in New Hampshire. As an alderman, he has advanced legislation in Nashua that seeks to incorporate low-income housing into market rate developments to provide equitable access to housing, and to increase tax abatements to disabled homeowners.
Moran says, “I am beyond humbled to be recognized as Social Worker of the Year by my peers at NASW-NH. The profession of social work is integral to advancing both policy and practices that provide equity to our society. I have utilized the fundamental values of my profession to do just this in my career, and will continue to advocate for equity through all systems I interact with to foster progressive change.”
Moran will be recognized for the award during the 2024 NASW-NH Social Work Celebration, March 29, 2024, in Concord, NH. Those interested in celebrating Moran are welcome to attend.