Sherraden, M., Clancy, M. M., Huang, J., Boshara, R., & Johnson, L. (2025). Asset building for all, starting at birth: Emergence of federal policy and a key design lesson (CSD Policy Brief No. 25-27). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/baqt-6318
Category: Briefs & Summaries
The Impact of Benefits Cliffs and Asset Limits on Low-Wage Workers: New Evidence From a Nationally Representative Survey
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Miller, S. (2025). Savings incentives and the SECURE 2.0 Act: New evidence on employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts and the Saver’s Match (CSD Research Brief No. 25-12), Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/bn8y-t719
Savings Incentives and the SECURE 2.0 Act: New Evidence on Employer-Sponsored Emergency Savings Accounts and the Saver’s Match
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Miller, S. (2025). Savings incentives and the SECURE 2.0 Act: New evidence on employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts and the Saver’s Match (CSD Research Brief No. 25-12), Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/bn8y-t719
Matching Student-Debt Payments with Retirement Contributions Has High Appeal for Low-Wage Workers: Implications for SECURE 2.0
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Zhang, G. (2025). Matching student debt payments with retirement contributions has high appeal for low-wage workers: Implications for SECURE 2.0 (CSD Research Brief No. 25-13). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/njam-jy38
Retirement Plan Access Among Low-Wage Workers in 2024: Implications for SECURE 2.0
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Miller, S. (2025). Retirement plan access among low-wage workers in 2024: Implications for SECURE 2.0 (CSD Research Brief No. 25-10). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/k2wj-8b08
Auto-Enrollment, Auto-Escalation, and the Need for Retirement Plan Portability: Implications for SECURE 2.0
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Miller, S. (2025). Auto-enrollment, auto-escalation, and the need for retirement plan portability: Implications for SECURE 2.0 (CSD Research Brief No. 25-11). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/xsyc-qw19
Fossil Fuel Wealth for Human Development: CDAs Continue in Kazakhstan with Second Year Deposits
Huseynli, A., & Sherraden, M. (2025). Fossil fuel wealth for human development: CDAs continue in Kazakhstan with second year deposits (CSD Policy Brief No. 25-05). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/PBJS-4450
The National Fund for Children in Kazakhstan
Huseynli, A., Zou, L., Sherraden, M., & Huang, J. (2024). The National Fund for Children in Kazakhstan (Policy Brief No. 24-17). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/sdeb-m075
Does Guaranteed Income Build Assets for Black Women? Evidence from the In Her Hands Program
Roll, S., Elliott, D., Smith, S., Quick, A., Brugger, L., Davis, S., & Hamilton, L. (2024). Does guaranteed income build assets for Black women? Evidence from the In Her Hands program (Conference Brief). University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.7302/24452
The (Unknown) Children’s Savings Accounts Federal Policy Landscape
Boshara, R. (2024). The (unknown) children’s savings accounts federal policy landscape (Conference Brief). University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.7302/24443
Child Development Accounts and the SEED for Oklahoma Kids Experiment: Evidence and Impacts
Huang, J., Sherraden, M., Clancy, M. M., Beverly, S. G., & Schreiner, M. (2024). Child Development Accounts and the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment: Evidence and impacts (Conference Brief). University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.7302/24411
Inclusive Children’s Accounts: Toward Lifelong Asset Building for All
Sherraden, M., Clancy, M. M., Huang, J., Shanks, T., & Elliott, W. (2024). Inclusive children’s accounts: Toward lifelong asset building for all (Conference Brief). University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.7302/24440
Environmental Justice and Social Work: A Study Across Practice Settings in Three U.S. States
Minnick, D., J., Rao, S., Smith, K., Krings, A., & Teixeira, S. (2024). Meeting the Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment (Policy Brief). Grand Challenges for Social Work. https://grandchallengesforsocialwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240730-SRTCE_PB_FINAL.pdf
Meeting the Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment
Minnick, D., J., Rao, S., Smith, K., Krings, A., & Teixeira, S. (2024). Meeting the Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment (Policy Brief). Grand Challenges for Social Work. https://grandchallengesforsocialwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240730-SRTCE_PB_FINAL.pdf
Meeting the Grand Challenge to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All; Social Workers: A Ready Workforce for Building Financial Capability in Underserved Households
Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Johnson, L. (2024, July). Meeting the grand challenge to build financial capability and assets for all; Social workers: A ready workforce for building financial capability in underserved households (Policy Brief). Grand Challenges for Social Work. https://grandchallengesforsocialwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240730-SW-FCAB-workforce_FINAL.pdf
Meeting the Grand Challenge to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All; Strengthen the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Birkenmaier, J., & Huang, J. (2024, July). Meeting the grand challenge to build financial capability and assets for all; Strengthen the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Policy Brief). Grand Challenges for Social Work. https://grandchallengesforsocialwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240730-CFPB_FCAB_PB_FINAL.pdf
Eliminate Racism, Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality, and Build Financial Capabilities and Assets for All; Universal Child Development Accounts to Develop All Children and Reduce Racial Wealth Inequality
Huang, J., Shanks, T. R., Teasley, M., Spencer, M., & Sherraden, M. (2024, July). Eliminate racism, reduce extreme economic inequality, and build financial capabilities and assets for all; Universal Child Development Accounts to develop all children and reduce racial wealth inequality (Policy Brief). Grand Challenges for Social Work. https://grandchallengesforsocialwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240730-CDAs_FINAL.pdf
Asset-Building Policy and Black Reparations: Effective Delivery and Wealth Accumulation
Shanks, T. R., Huang, J., Elliott, W., III, Zheng, H., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2024). Asset-building policy and Black reparations: Effective delivery and wealth accumulation (CSD Research Brief No. 24-07). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/4tyz-z454
Child Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Advantaged Accounts Benefiting American Children: Testimony Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
Elliott, W. (2024, May). Child Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged accounts benefiting American children: Testimony Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance (CSD Perspective No. 24-05). Washington University, Center for Social Development, and University of Michigan, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion. https://doi.org/10.7936/ezhm-qb08
Wealth-Building for All Children: Convergence and Evidence to Support a Nationwide Policy
Huang, J., Shanks, T. R., Clancy, M. M., Elliott, W., III, & Sherraden, M. (2024). Wealth-building for all children: Convergence and evidence to support a nationwide policy (CSD Policy Brief No. 24-04). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/kyht-rv07
Expanded Child Tax Credits: A Transformational Opportunity to Help Families Put Food on the Table
Beaudoin, S., Lacko, A., Ashbrook, A. (2023). Expanded Child Tax Credits: A transformational opportunity to help families put food on the table (FRAC Research Brief). Food Research and Action Center. https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/Expanded-Child-Tax-Credits-Research-Brief.pdf
My Alfond Grant CDA: Experience From 10 Years of Automatic Deposits for All Maine Newborns
Quint, C. J., & Clancy, M. M. (2023, June). My Alfond Grant CDA: Experience From 10 years of automatic deposits for all Maine newborns (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-19). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/9tx1-hf90
Child Well-Being Policies in Post-Soviet Countries: The Potential of Child Development Accounts
Huseynli, A., & Sherraden, M. (2023, June). Child well-being policies in post-Soviet countries: The potential of Child Development Accounts (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-18). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/8f0m-qs76
Linkage Fees: A Vehicle for Financing Affordable Housing
Murphy, L., Cooper, S., & Beckham, R. (2023, February). Linkage fees: A vehicle for financing affordable housing (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-11). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/r0g8-kr48
Advancing Racial Equity Through Community Land Trusts
Alzhrani, A., Kiefer, B., Kim, D.-Y., & Eissner, G. (2023, February). Advancing racial equity through community land trusts (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-10). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/hyr6-3569
Zoning: Issues and Reform
Borland, O., Kohlstruk, C., & Owens, L. (2023, February). Zoning: Issues and reform (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-09). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/9bav-8t27
Racially Restrictive Covenants: A Story of Segregation, Disinvestment, and Lingering Implications
Al Hammam, F., Haden, J., Logan-Wood, L., & Roeder, J. (2023, February). Racially restrictive covenants: A story of segregation, disinvestment, and lingering implications (CSD Policy Brief No. 23-08). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/fshc-6755
Welcome Home: A Policy Briefing Book for Housing Opportunity in St. Louis County
Metzger, M. (Ed.). (2023, February). Welcome home: A policy briefing book for housing opportunity in St. Louis County (CSD Research Summary No. 23-07). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/q9c7-3n13
Combatting Rising Healthcare Costs for Healthier Adults
Summary In 2020, healthcare expenditures averaged $12,530 per person, up 9.7% from 2019. In 2018, 19% of U.S. households had medical debt with $2,000 being the median amount owed. Over half of adults between 18 to 64 years of age are estimated to experience some form of medical financial hardship including medical bills or debt, […]
Usage and Impact of Benefits Among Frontline Healthcare Workers
Despard, M. (2022). Usage and impact of benefits among frontline healthcare workers (Social Policy Institute Research No. 65). https://doi.org/10.7936/6f24-p704
Child Development Accounts Reach Over 15 Million Globally
Zou, L., & Sherraden, M. (2022, June). Child Development Accounts reach over 15 million children globally (CSD Policy Brief No. 22-22). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/yfyb-r646
Disparate financial assistance support for small business owners
Small business owners experienced a drastic economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Government pandemic assistance failed to reach many small business owners, especially those historically underserved by financial institutions. Drawing on a 2021 survey of 246 small business owners, the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis descriptively examined the extent to […]
Policy Design for Child Development Accounts: Parents’ Perceptions
Beverly, S. G., Huang, J., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2022, January). Policy design for Child Development Accounts: Parents’ perceptions (CSD Research Brief No. 22-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/nbdq-xa08
Targeted Deposits in Pennsylvania’s Keystone Scholars Child Development Account Program
DeCecco, A., Peachey, J., & Clancy, M. M. (2021, November). Targeted deposits in Pennsylvania’s Keystone Scholars Child Development Account program (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-36). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/5qg9-4191
Employment Changes During COVID-19
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. unemployment peaked at 14.4%. While some workers have returned to payrolls, others have been left behind. This brief examines the nuances of employment changes over the course of the pandemic and the impact of those changes on household financial well-being. Our study finds that the proportion of employees who […]
Serving Students: Increased Free and Reduce-Price School Meal Access in Missouri
Ferris, D., Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Sandoval, N. (2021). Serving students: Increased free and reduced-price school meal access in Missouri (Policy Brief). Saint Louis University, Prime Center. https://www.primecenter.org/policy-brief-database/srf-meals
International Development Volunteering as Alternative Public Diplomacy
Tiessen, R., & Lough, B. J. (2021). International development volunteering as alternative public diplomacy. In H. Zafarullah & A. S. Huque (Eds.), Handbook of Development Policy (pp 283–293). Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839100871.00032
Leadership for Volunteering: The COVID-19 Experience
Mati, J. M., Allum, C., Perold, H., Lough, B. J., Tiessen R. (2021). Leadership for volunteering: The COVID-19 experience [Report]. International Association for Volunteer Effort International. https://leadership4vol.iave.org/
The Case for a Nationwide Child Development Account Policy: A Policy Brief Developed by CDA Experts and Researchers
Cisneros, J., Clancy, M. M., Elliott, W., III, Feinstein, A., Kanter, M., Karcher-Ramos, M., Kugler, C., Peachey, J., Quint, C., Shapiro, T. M., & Sherraden, M. (2021, August). The case for a nationwide Child Development Account policy: A policy brief developed by CDA experts and researchers (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-20). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Redesigning College Savings (529) Plans to Achieve Inclusive Child Development Accounts: A Policy Brief Developed by CDA Experts and Researchers
Cisneros, J., Clancy, M. M., Elliott, W., III, Feinstein, A., Kanter, M., Karcher-Ramos, M., Kugler, C., Peachey, J., Quint, C., Shapiro, T. M., & Sherraden, M. (2021, August). Redesigning college savings (529) plans to achieve inclusive Child Development Accounts: A policy brief developed by CDA experts and researchers (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-21). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Building Financial Capability and Assets for Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs
Huang, J., & Guo, B. (2021, April). Building financial capability and assets for disadvantaged entrepreneurs (CSD Research Brief No. 21-10). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/8nyn-h137
Financial Outcomes in a Child Development Account Experiment: Full Inclusion, Success Regardless of Race or Income, and Investment Growth for All
Clancy, M. M., Beverly, S. G., Schreiner, M., Huang, J., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Financial outcomes in a Child Development Account experiment: Full inclusion, success regardless of race or income, investment growth for all (CSD Research Summary 21-06). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/fnjg-n539
Fintech as a Solution for Employee Financial Health: Findings from Five Exploratory Studies
The financial technology (fintech) sector has grown rapidly in recent years. Awareness and use of fintech has grown as companies in this sector have increased their user-friendly design, convenience, and accessibility. A unique fintech niche that has developed rapidly alongside the overall industry is known as “employer-channel fintech.” Offered by employers, these solutions or benefits […]
From Financial Struggle to Short-Term Financial Relief – An Exploratory Study on Small-Dollar Lending for Low-and Moderate-Income Employees
In this study, we examined HoneyBee, a service company that provides access to 0% APR loans and financial coaching through the workplace. HoneyBee aims to offer employees in need a more affordable credit alternative to payday and auto title loans and therefore help addressing significant cash flow emergencies. Data for this exploratory study included 65 […]
Nudging Parents to Improve Children’s Oral Health: A Field Study
This research brief is part of a series by the Social Impact Nudgeathon initiative. This initiative incorporated insights from behavioral economics into the design and delivery of social welfare programs. Developed through a partnership between the Joint Distribution Committee in Israel (JDC-Israel) and the Social Policy Institute (SPI) at Washington University in St. Louis, this initiative is among the first of its kind to launch in Israel. […]
MI-SEED Investment Funds and Account Growth: Implications for Achieving Higher Rates of Return in CDA Programs
Shanks, T. R., & Meehan, P. (2021, February). MI-SEED investment funds and account growth: Implications for achieving higher rates of return in CDA programs (Research Brief No. 21-05). Washington University, Center for Social Development, and University of Michigan, Center for Equitable Family and Community Well-Being. https://doi.org/10.7936/50MK-H281
Insights From State Treasurers: Developing and Implementing Statewide Child Development Account Policies
Leiker, C., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2020, October). Insights from state treasurers: Developing and implementing statewide Child Development Account policies (CSD Policy Summary No. 20-19). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/14tc-2b43
Child Development Accounts Improve Parenting Practices, Particularly for Financially Vulnerable Families
Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2020, August). Child Development Accounts improve
parenting practices, particularly for financially vulnerable families (CSD Research Brief No. 20-15).
St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Social Work and the Future of Policing: Key Points for Changes in Policy and Practice
Sherraden, M. (2020, June). Social work and the future of policing: Key points for changes in policy and practice (CSD Policy Brief No. 20-14). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/885h-rh13
Employee Financial Wellness Programs: Tips for providers
There are several types of Employee Financial Wellness Programs (EFWPs), such as workplace financial counseling, workplace credit building, and employer-sponsored small dollar loans. Each program benefits the company and its employees in different ways.
Washington University researchers, with generous support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, studied the implementation of EFWPs at several diverse organizations, including a nonprofit in the Midwest and several supply chain locations of a national retailer, to understand the impact. As a result, we’ve identified five ways in which providers can maximize the benefits of EFWPs and avoid pitfalls along the way.