"GovState is home. As an alumnus of our social work program,
it is a profound honor to serve alongside those who educated and shaped me into
the clinician and leader I am today. My journey here has instilled in me a deep
appreciation for the transformative power of education and mentorship.
Working at the College of Health and Human Services allows
me to cultivate the minds and skills of our future social work leaders. I am
passionate about sharing the knowledge and wisdom I have gained over the years,
fostering an environment where students feel empowered to grow and make
impactful contributions to their communities.
Now, at this pivotal point in my career, I feel a strong
calling to give back to the institution that has given me so much. I believe
that by investing in the next generation of social workers, we can create a
ripple effect that enhances the field and benefits those we serve."
Latesha is passionate about mental health and is a strong
advocate for social justice as she works to influence policies that create
equitable and transformative change in our society. Each year, as the
co-advisor to GOVSTATE’s Social Work Student Organization (SWSO), she trains
and leads a group of students in policy advocacy at our Illinois State Capitol
with legislators around the state to help advocate for the voiceless and
underserved in our state. For the past two consecutive years under her leadership
as President of the National Association of Social Workers Illinois chapter and
in collaboration with our GOVSTATE Social Work Department, GOVSTATE has been
recognized as having the most attendees at the annual NASW Illinois Social Work
Advocacy Day among all state schools of social work. This past April 2025,
GOVSTATE social work students were instrumental in the historic passage of
HB1806, The Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources (WOPR) Act into
law. This legislation is the first in the country to ban artificial
intelligence (AI) systems posing as therapists. This bill was signed into law
by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 1st, 2025.
Latesha is the immediate past President of the National
Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter, serving 2023-2025, and chair of
the Council of Chapter Presidents. In her previous role within the
organization, she was chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
from 2021-2023. In 2020, she served as co-chair of the Task Force on Racial
Justice, where our chapter’s recommendations on police reform were reflected in
the Criminal Justice Omnibus bill, which was signed into law by Governor J. B.
Pritzker in 2021 and most recently assisted and supported the passage of HB2365
LCSW Reform in 2023 which amends the Clinical Social Work Practice Act which provides
dual purpose of creating an equitable and alternative pathway to social work
clinical licensure and increasing the number of qualified clinicians in our
mental health workforce. This landmark
bill was signed into law by the Governor on August 4, 2023.
In 2021, Latesha became a fierce advocate for Treatment Not
Trauma, which focused on a humane response to mental health crises in the City
of Chicago and called for the reopening of the closed mental health clinics in
underserved communities. In 2023, Mayor Brandon Johnson officially appointed
Latesha to the Mental Health System Expansion Working Group for the City of
Chicago. Established by City Council Ordinance, the MHSE Working Group proposed
a framework and roadmap to expand behavioral and mental health clinical
services, reimagine a citywide response to behavioral and mental health crises,
and increase community awareness around available resources. Through this work,
the city of Chicago reopened two public mental health clinics in 2024 in the
communities of Pilsen and Roseland. Mental health services were also added to
the Ledger Library in Garfield Park.
Link: Home
In 2023, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for
her work in the social work profession. She serves on the Social Justice
Initiative Advisory Council for Governors State University.
Relevant Clips:
GSU
alum to lead NASW
An
agent of change: Latesha Newson ’15 honored as 2023 Governors State
Distinguished Alumni
Distinguished
Alumni Youtube video: https://youtu.be/ST787KBnrLA?feature=shared
Latesha
Newson focusing on mental health in her community
Advisory
Council | Governors State University