Elizabeth (Betsy) Cauble, Ph.D., MSW

Betsy Cauble retired from Kansas State University in May 2019. She served as associate social work program coordinator from May 2015 to May 2019 following 10 years as head of the Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Kansas State University. During her 25 years at KSU, Cauble taught every course in the social work curriculum. Her prior experience includes serving as child welfare administrator at Franklin County Children's Services in Columbus, Ohio; director of a hospital social work department, family therapist, director of a custody mediation research project, and foster parent. Betsy received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado and her MSW and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Her areas of interest include social work practice, public policy, ethical behavioral health practice, and child welfare.

Yvonne M. Chase, Ph.D., LCSW, ACSW

Yvonne M. Chase is an associate professor in the University of Alaska Anchorage Dept. of Human Services under the College of Health. Chase’s prior experience includes serving as deputy commissioner for two state departments in Alaska and one in Washington State. She also has significant experience in the nonprofit sector. Chase holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill.; an MSW from Howard University in Washington, D.C.; and a doctorate in Social Work from Norfolk State University. Her areas of interest include social work ethics, child welfare, serving diverse client populations, and the global social work community.

Richard L. Jones, Ph.D.

Richard L. Jones, Ph.D., has served in major leadership roles in the nonprofit sector throughout the country.

In 2013, he served as the senior vice president of Community Investment of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. He was responsible for leadership, planning, and measurement, and execution of United Way’s strategic investments in the areas of income, education, and health.

Richard also served as the administrator of employment and family services and the Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Agency for Cuyahoga County in Ohio. Prior to his position, for 13 years, he served as president and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, delivering more than $290 million in programs and services to more than 600,000 people during his tenure.

Dina C. Larsen, CPHRM

Dina C. Larsen has been with Western Litigation (currently Gallagher) since 2006. In her current role, Larsen provides a variety of risk- and claim-related services to a large multi-hospital risk retention group (RRG) and an RRG for social workers.

Other responsibilities include assisting with claims and risk management; preparing statistical analyses and applicable reports reflecting claim and risk activity; interacting with risk managers at various facilities; participating in claims and risk subcommittee meetings; completing miscellaneous projects as requested; coordinating monthly risk management meetings in various locations throughout the U.S.; and serving as administrator for the online incident reporting system (RL Solutions) for several of the hospitals.

Larsen also provides claim management and routinely answers calls on a national hotline service for the NASW Risk Retention Group. She also holds a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management designation, which is an exclusive certification offered by the American Hospital Association for health care risk managers. Larsen spent 18 years working as the main paralegal for a medical malpractice group of attorneys.

She is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of medical record summaries for specific files; reviewing all pleadings filed with courts or hearing processes; confirming legal citations and document citations; responsible for office docketing system to confirm compliance with calendar deadlines and court rules; and working with co-defense counsel and clients on document preparation, production, and other items.

Phil Lawson, Ph.D., MS, MBA

Phil Lawson is vice president of Product Development and Risk with the NASW Risk Retention Group, Inc.

Lawson leads the product development and claims elements, with some work in business development, and is a GE Six Sigma Certified Black Belt leading process improvements. Lawson has 43 years of commercial and consumer finance and insurance experience in affiliate CEO and SVP roles with GE Capital, GE Financial Assurance, AIG, and Sun Oil. His P&C and L&H insurance expertise include national affinity distribution, product development, and claims management. Lawson is insurance licensed in 50 states for Property & Casualty and Allied Lines, and Life, Health, Accident, Annuities, and Allied Lines.

Lawson is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and Arts & Sciences Ph.D. and M.S. degree business and organization applied economics programs. His published dissertation is “Managing Strategic Change,” UMI Company #9712960. Lawson also earned the M.I.T. Sloan School Executive Program in Corporate Strategy designation while he was the affiliate division CEO at Sun Oil Company. Lawson is a Board member of the Chester County, Pa., Intellectual Disability program, guiding a $58 million annual budget across 200,000 households in the Congressional Districts 6th, 7th, and 16th.

Joseph T. Monahan, J.D., MSW, ACSW

Joseph T. Monahan is the founder of Monahan Law Group, LLC, and one of the pre-eminent mental health law attorneys in Illinois. Under Monahan's direction, Monahan Law Group, LLC, provides legal services to more than 80 hospitals and numerous mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, and social service agencies. In addition to professional clients, the firm also represents individuals at all levels of administrative and judicial proceedings.

Monahan has tried countless guardianship, mental health, and child welfare cases over the past 36 years. From confidentiality of mental health records to same-sex adoption, Monahan has successfully argued cases at every level of the Illinois court system, including the Illinois Supreme Court. He has been appointed by the court to represent persons with disabilities in complex or extraordinary mental health cases. His background as a social worker makes him acutely aware of the legal issues that impact social service professionals and the people they serve. Joe is the past president of the Board of Directors of the NASW Risk Retention Group, the malpractice insurance company for social workers, and has been an active member of NASW for decades. Joe continues to serve on the NASW Risk Retention Group Executive Committee.

Monahan has been an engaging member of the legal community throughout his career and has played an integral role in developing important policies and legislation to assist individuals with disabilities and those involved in their care. As a recognized leader in his field, Monahan frequently is invited to teach courses and provide training to law students, attorneys, medical and mental health professionals, and family members.

Monahan is an adjunct associate professor of law at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he has taught mental health law for more than 28 years. He also has taught at Northwestern University School of Law. Monahan repeatedly has served as chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Mental Health Law Section Council and has been appointed to numerous other leadership positions in the state and local not-for-profit groups throughout his long-standing career.

Monahan is a steadfast advocate for persons with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them. He cares deeply about each of his clients and strives to represent them with principled advocacy and practical legal advice.