Darcey Merritt Receives 2025 Best Mixed Methods Article Award from Families in Society
By Crown Family School
Darcey Merritt, PhD, Professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and co-authors, have received the 2025 Best Mixed Methods Article Award from Families in Society (FIS) for their article, “Mandated Reporting and Child Welfare Surveillance: Protection or Subordination.”
The annual award recognizes articles that demonstrate originality of thought, strong conceptual framing, and rigorous methodology, and that make a significant contribution to social work research and practice. Dr. Merritt’s article was selected for its sophisticated mixed-methods approach and its timely examination of mandated reporting practices in child welfare systems.
In the article, Dr. Merritt interrogates whether mandated reporting functions primarily as a protective mechanism or as a form of surveillance that disproportionately impacts families involved in the child welfare system. By integrating qualitative and quantitative data, the research deepens understanding of how reporting practices shape professional decision-making, policy implementation, and lived experiences, offering important implications for social work practice and reform.
The editor-in-chief of Families in Society noted that the article significantly expands the field’s knowledge base and reflects the journal’s commitment to advancing high-quality, policy-relevant, and practice-informed scholarship. The recognition also underscores the growing influence of Families in Society as a leading journal at the intersection of social work research, policy, and practice.
Dr. Merritt’s award-winning scholarship reflects the Crown Family School’s ongoing commitment to rigorous, equity-centered research that informs professional practice and contributes to critical debates within the field of social work.