Social Work dean, professor share award for child welfare article

Florida State University College of Social Work Dean C. Aaron McNeece and Professor Bruce A. Thyer have received one of North America’s premier literary awards in the field of child welfare for an article they wrote about the importance of practicing social work based on evidence of what works.

McNeece and Thyer received a Herbert S. Raskin Child Welfare Article Award for their article, “Evidence Based Practice and Social Work,” which was published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Practice in 2004. The award recognizes articles that best “exemplify the intellectual integrity and moral courage required to transcend political and social barriers to champion best practice in the field of child welfare.”

The award is one of the 2005 Pro Humanitate Literary Awards given by the Center for Child Welfare Policy of the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare. McNeece and Thyer will receive a Pro Humanitate Medal and share a $1,000 prize.

“I am deeply touched to have received such an honor from my colleagues,” McNeece said, noting that the awards are given by a jury of peers in social work education, research and practice.

The NARCCW is a non-profit, privately endowed organization that develops, disseminates and promotes “best practice” public policy on child welfare. The organization confers one book award and three article awards annually to authors from the United States and Canada. This year two books and four articles were recognized because of tie scores.

In addition to serving as dean, McNeece is the Walter W. Hudson Professor of Social Work. Professor Thyer is also editor of the journal Research on Social Work Practice.