A New Approach to Promote Economic Independence Among At-Risk Children: Child Development Accounts (CDAs) in Korea

This case study investigates the adoption and implementation of Child Development Accounts (CDAs) in South Korea, using information collected from in-depth interviews and existing documents. The design of the program, an asset-building program for children in the child welfare system, reflects unique needs and conditions of the target population and promotes strong collaboration among governmental and private entities. Issue framing emerges as an important strategy for the CDA policy’s adoption. Institutional and organizational factors, such as sponsorship and well-developed collaboration among multiple partners, may explain the successful implementation of the program.

This paper was presented during Child Development Accounts: Research and Policy Symposium, a November 2008 conference, and was developed for publication in Child Development Accounts: Theory, Evidence, and Policy Potential, a special issue of Children and Youth Services Review. Released in November 2010, the special issue was edited by Michael Sharraden, Youngmi Kim, and Vernon Loke.

Subsequent publication: Nam, Y., & Han, C.-K. (2010). A new approach to promote economic independence among at-risk children: Child Development Accounts (CDAs) in Korea. Children & Youth Services Review, 32(11), 1548–1554. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.04.009

Project: South Korea: Asset-Based Policy Development