Interested in the field of social services since her collegiate studies, Jacqueline I. Wert obtained a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Iowa in 1964 and began working as a nursing assistant at the Iowa Psychopathic Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Relocating to Chicago, she subsequently served as a case worker in public assistance at the Cook County Department of Public Assistance from 1965 to 1968 before becoming employed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a child welfare worker in 1969, where she specialized in child foster and residential treatment care, child welfare and adoption. Remaining with the Department for more than 30 years until 2002, Ms. Wert attended the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, where she obtained a Master of Social Work in 1974. Between 1982 and 1993, she served Grove Counseling Associates on a part-time basis, and since 1993, has maintained her own private practice.
Holding myriad certifications and licensed within the realms of social work, public welfare and conflict resolution, Ms. Wert also earned a certificate through the Family Institute at Northwestern University in 1982. She was certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers in 1981 and subsequently completed training in substance abuse counseling in 1984. Likewise, she was certified by the Conflict Resolution and Divorce Mediation Institute in 1996, by the Council on Affordable Quality Healthcare in 2007, by the Gottman Institute in 2009 and in practical psychopharmacology by Professional Education Systems, Inc., in 2009. Additionally, she earned a certificate in medical billing and coding from the Harry S. Truman College of Continuing Education in 2009. Later in her career, she was certified in cinema therapy by the Zur Institute, Inc., in 2011.
Alongside her primary ventures, Ms. Wert has been a frequent presenter in the field for more than 35 years and contributed her expertise to several facilities and institutions. She has maintained membership with the National Association of Social Work and the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
In recognition of her career achievements, Ms. Wert was bestowed with certificates of recognition for team performance in 1998 and 2000. Earlier, she received a Director’s Award from the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in 1989. Likewise, she was published in the 23rd edition of Who’s Who of American Women in 2002 and has been named a Top Healthcare Provider, Industry Leader and Worldwide Humanitarian by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, she was honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
