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Recent News
Huang inducted into American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
In recognition of his many contributions to social work research, policy, and practice, CSD’s Associate Director for Research, Jin Huang, was inducted into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare on January 18. “I am honored and humbled to be counted among the nation’s finest social-work researchers and practitioners, and my team shares […]
CSD Research, Expertise Showcased at SSWR 2025
The 29th annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) featured the work of 41 affiliates of the Center for Social Development (CSD) across 72 events. Faculty, staff, and associated researchers contributed to 11 symposia, three roundtables, 16 oral presentations, five flash talks, and 30 poster presentations. They convened five Special Interest […]
Center for Social Development, Social Policy Institute Announce Strategic Integration
The new CSD will have expanded leadership, a broader research agenda and greater potential for policy and program impacts. The start of this integration is a key step in the broader beginning of a new era of leadership and excellence in social development and policy at Washington University’s Brown School.
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Sherraden honored as ‘Social Work Pioneer’
Michael Sherraden, the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis and founding director of the Center for Social Development, has been named a Social Work Pioneer. The honor, announced on July 19 by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation, has been previously bestowed upon such social work luminaries […]
New study identifies options for reparations delivery
New research from the Center for Social Development confronts the enduring legacy of slavery and racism by identifying a policy model for delivering reparations. Published in a special double issue of RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, the study draws upon CSD’s Child Development Account research and the long-running SEED from Oklahoma Kids experiment.
CSD research spotlighted at U.S. Senate hearing
Research conducted by the Center for Social Development took center stage at the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s May 21 hearing on proposed federal children’s account policy.
In China, a new tool for financial social work
Social work students in mainland China have a new tool for learning how to help families navigate financial challenges and build financial security. A landmark textbook from the Financial Capability and Asset Building initiative at the Center for Social Development has been translated into Chinese.
On federal children’s account policy, a new ‘shared vision’ grounded in CSD research
Amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes Congressional activity, key researchers and policy experts have endorsed central elements of a federal children’s account policy. Shaped in large part by research at the Center for Social Development, the elements and consensus are the subjects of a new brief from CSD.
Data for Social Impact Initiative Launches Data Equity Learning Cohort
To build connection and capacity for social sector leaders in equitable, collaborative data practice, Data for Social Impact (DSI), an initiative of the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, launched a Data Equity learning cohort in January 2024 in collaboration with Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP) of the University of Pennsylvania. […]
Kazakhstan launches CDA policy informed by CSD research
Under the new policy, every child in the Central Asian nation is receiving an account with assets from natural-resource wealth.
Cultivating financial resilience to combat labor trafficking in Africa
In southern Africa and elsewhere, high vulnerability to poverty and false promises of employment lure many youth from their homes into the hands of traffickers who exploit them through forced labor. A new project from the Center for Social Development (CSD) initiative on Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa) focuses on reducing […]
Aytakin Huseynli receives award for dissertation
Aytakin Huseynli, postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Social Development (CSD), has received the 2024 Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Honorable Mention Award from the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). Society President Sean Joe, a CSD faculty director, and Awards Committee Chair Gina Miranda Samuels presented the award to her on January 13, […]
STEM training, apprenticeships increase work satisfaction (Links to an external site)
Participation in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) apprenticeship program increased job happiness, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social Development in January 2025.
Informed by CSD research, 401Kids Act introduced in U.S. Senate
On Wednesday, January 31, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania introduced federal legislation to create a national children’s account policy. The 401Kids Act is designed to empower all children, and particularly children from disadvantaged households, by providing a means for them to accumulate assets for developmental priorities like higher education.
At SSWR conference, CSD affiliates receiving awards, organizing sessions, and presenting
Affiliates of the Center for Social Development (CSD) are once again making significant contributions at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). The 2024 conference runs from January 10 through 14, 2024, in Washington, DC. Faculty Director Trina Shanks, the Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work at the […]
Boshara joins CSD as senior policy advisor
Ray Boshara, a national expert on wealth inequality and household financial security, has joined the Center for Social Development (CSD) as a senior policy advisor. As part of this appointment, Boshara serves as a Legislative Fellow with the Office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey, where he is developing Senator Casey’s “401Kids” proposal. The proposal will […]
Shu Fang joins CSD
The Center for Social Development’s newest faculty director is a leading expert on financial social work and social policy in mainland China. Shu Fang, professor in the School of Sociology and Psychology at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, is the newest faculty director at the Center for Social Development (CSD). Fang […]
Global conference connects social work, research and policy
CSD co-organizes international conference at gateway between East and West. Researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers came together in late November for the International Conference on Social Work and Social Research: Financial Capability and Asset Building for All. Organized by Azerbaijan University, the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University in St. Louis, Sakayra University […]
Parents’ views of universal asset-building policies for children
A new study captures parents’ perspectives on the influence that Child Development Accounts can exert over children’s educational attainment and parental saving for children’s higher education. Successful policymaking depends on public support. In policies affecting children, parents’ understanding and opinions matter. A new study from Center for Social Development researchers Jin Huang, Sondra G. Beverly, […]
Evidence, vision for Children’s Account policy at Singapore event
In a recent seminar, Center for Social Development (CSD) researchers discussed the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment, Singapore’s leadership in asset-based social policy and a vision for global Children Development Accounts. Singapore is a global leader in asset-based social policy, providing citizens a cradle-to-grave structure for accumulating wealth. That interest in such policies and their […]
In memoriam: Gena Gunn McClendon, a champion of justice and equity
Gena Gunn McClendon, esteemed director of community engagement at the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University, passed away on October 21, 2023. She leaves behind an enduring legacy as a fierce advocate for equity, a champion for the disempowered and a passionate defender of voting rights. “Throughout her career, Gena has been a […]
New national children’s account policy taking shape
Natural resource wealth underpins a proposal for what may be the world’s next national children’s account policy.
Social Policy Institute to study impact of short-term credentials on advancing equity and meeting local labor market demands
Contact: Jason Jabbari, Associate Director of Community Partnerships, Social Policy Institutejabbari.jason@wustl.edu. ST. LOUIS, Missouri (August 28, 2023) – The Social Policy Institute (SPI) at Washington University in St. Louis has received a two-year, $475,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation. These funds will support a research project aiming to understand the impact of short-term credentials on […]
Zou talks global CDAs at World Bank Evolution Forum
Li Zou has given many presentations on Child Development Accounts (CDAs) in other countries, but this one was different.
The international director for the Center for Social Development (CSD) was at the World Bank to deliver invited remarks on the bank’s plan to evolve its mission and operations. The bank’s roadmap affirms commitments to poverty reduction and shared prosperity while calling for changes to better meet global challenges.
At the bank’s April 11 Evolution Forum, Zou sketched a strategy for meeting all three of those goals, a strategy for developing a global CDA policy based on research by the Center for Social Development.
CSD’s Margaret Clancy recognized for leadership in Child Development Account research, policy
Brown School honors Clancy with 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Passion and patience. Margaret Clancy has devoted a generous dose of each during her 24-year career with the Center for Social Development (CSD) in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. They have paid off not only for her career, but for millions of […]
Help for the helpers: CSD builds bridges in Bulgaria
As Bulgarian social workers assist thousands of Ukrainian refugees, CSD’s Aytakin Huseynli is leading a group that offers global support.
Special issue proposes a path to economic progress in Africa
Bringing together evidence from a diverse network of researchers and practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the March special issue of Global Social Welfare highlights the Center for Social Development’s focus on improving economic well-being for marginalized populations on the continent. The issue, “Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development,” was developed through the Financial Capability […]
New collection offers inclusive housing policies for St. Louis region
For decades, deeply entrenched policies have made Greater St. Louis one of the most segregated metropolitan areas in the United States. A new briefing book offers policy options for change.
Experts discuss why, how social workers change policy
Social policy is a part of social work at almost every turn, yet many of the insights from the profession never find their way into the programs and rules that govern social workers’ efforts. What prompts helping professionals to take up policy work, and which strategies are most effective for influencing policy? Social workers and scholars around the world gathered virtually to discuss these subjects at Social Work in Social Policy: Engagement Strategies for Today and the Next Generation—A Book Event.
Washington University Study Examines Role of Tighter School Security on Academic Performance (Links to an external site)
Jason Jabbari, associate director of community partnerships, spoke about findings from a report he co-authored on the correlation between school security and academic performance.
Sherraden honored with distinguished career award
The award recognizes a career of applied research innovations, major contributions to social work knowledge. On Saturday, January 14, 2023, the Society for Social Work and Research honored Michael Sherraden with the 2023 Distinguished Career Achievement Award. Sherraden is the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Codirector of the […]
Special issue offers new insights on family financial well-being
A special issue of the Journal of Family and Economic Issues charts an agenda for new practice and research on financial capability, assets, and family financial well-being.
New pilot tests CDAs, supports for families of children with autism
In China, CSD’s new research with Child Development Accounts aims to build families’ capacity for managing autism and its costs.
Tighter school security leads to lower test scores, study finds (Links to an external site)
As schools around the country have ramped up security efforts in response to recent school shootings, a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis suggests that increased surveillance is having a detrimental impact on academic performance.
Innovative training for Singapore’s frontline staff and volunteers
In Singapore, an innovative project is training frontline staff and volunteers to give financial guidance to low-income families.
California launches nation’s largest Child Development Account policy
The state enrolls 3.4 million children in CalKIDs, which CSD experts helped to shape. Today Governor Gavin Newsom publicly launched CalKIDS, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings program. With 3.4 million children in the first cohort of enrollees and more than $1.8 billion in assets, CalKIDS leaves the starting gate as the nation’s largest […]
Audience of over 2.65 million for keynotes on financial social work
On June 29, Faculty Directors Jin Huang and Minchao Jin delivered keynote addresses at the 2022 Financial Literacy Education Forum in mainland China. Carried by state news agency Xinhua, Sina Weibo, Youku, and numerous other platforms, the event drew an audience of over 2.65 million viewers.
Setting a Bigger Table: Participatory Approaches to Evaluating Impact
Join us virtually at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on September 8, 2022, for a conversation on designing a collaborative data process to evaluate programs and create more equitable outcomes.
Humanizing artificial, expanding intelligence: Putting AI in context with the social sciences and the social sector
The relationships between artificial intelligence (AI), the social sciences, and the social sector have incredible potential. It is easy to imagine a disconnect between something that is, in name, artificial, and the study and support of human relationships. How are advancements in data science, such as AI, furthering the missions and shared objectives of non-profits, […]
Worldwide, over 15 million have Child Development Accounts
New estimates on the number of children around the globe who are building assets in CDAs. Over 15 million children have built assets in Child Development Accounts (CDAs), according to new estimates in a brief by Li Zou and Michael Sherraden with the Center for Social Development in the Brown School at Washington University. Zou […]
James F. McDonnell Foundation awards $255k to study student mobility in St. Louis
As a part of the St. Louis Research Practice Collaborative (SRPC) and in partnership with St. Louis University, Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, has joined a team that received a $255k grant awarded by the James F. McDonnell Foundation for research on student mobility. […]
Jabbari awarded $512,000 grant from William T. Grant Foundation (Links to an external site)
The Record announced a recent William T. Grant award for an education-based research grant with a research-practitioner partnership conducted by Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor of SPI. This article reflects work initiated by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social Development in January 2025.
Child Development Accounts expand resources for higher education
New research from the Center for Social Development shows that a children’s account policy reduces obstacles to higher education. As the cost of higher education continues to grow, families in the United States struggle to save enough for children’s education. State 529 college savings plans are investment vehicles that assist families in meeting this need, […]
W.T. Grant Foundation awards $512k to study impact of Choice Neighborhood Initiative
Press release: June 8, 2022 Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, received a $512k grant from The William T. Grant Foundation to understand if and how the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) reduces racial inequalities in academic outcomes for children and youth. Alongside Jabbari, co-principal investigators […]
Senator, national experts discuss strategies for economic security
Policies to strengthen vulnerable families typically focus either on boosting income for present needs or assets for future priorities. A recent event spotlighted policies to integrate the two approaches for vulnerable families – as we already do for other families.
Nothing to show for it: Distress among non-degree earners with debt
Press release: May 11, 2022 According to a study by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, the convergence of college non-completion and student debt among borrowers lead to higher rates of material hardship, healthcare hardship, and financial difficulties than those with a high school degree, those with a college degree, and […]
CSD events spotlight ‘threats to democracy,’ work to protect voting
Two recent events illuminated restrictions on ballot access and strategies to increase voting. Both featured national experts on voting rights.
CSD launching ‘Empowering Voting and Democracy’ series
Events to feature Barbara Arnwine, national voting rights experts, and elections officials As the United States prepares for the 2022 elections, voting rights are under threat. What can be done to protect access to the ballot? Civil rights leader Barbara Arnwine of the Transformative Justice Coalition, Elizabeth Hira of the Brennan Center for Justice and […]
Journal spotlights research to improve financial well-being in vulnerable families
How can vulnerable families overcome barriers to financial security, and what has made it difficult for them to do so? New research in a special issue of Families in Society seeks answers to those questions. Guest edited by Jin Huang, Margaret Sherraden, Jenny L. Jones, and Christine Callahan, the collection developed from papers presented during […]
Apprenticeships increase employment, earnings, and optimism in the technology sector (Links to an external site)
Given the novel and rapidly changing nature of the labor market, learning new skills quickly will become an increasingly important aspect of workforce development and social mobility. The Social Policy Institute investigates LaunchCode, a St. Louis boot camp with an apprenticeship model, as a viable option to increase wealth-building opportunities and upskill a more diverse labor […]
Top social workers in China call for curriculum changes, financial capability
How does a nation train over a million social workers to help build the financial capability and assets of their clients? What should social workers in China know about finance, and what is the best way to teach them? Weighing these matters, researchers and several of China’s top social workers proposed changes at the First […]
Beyond the Buzzwords: What is “Data for Social Impact,” and why does it matter?
Social sector organizations can increase impact, both individually and collectively, by being more strategic in how they engage with data. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a range of processes and practices for individuals and organizations to consider as they grapple with complex challenges in their communities.
Celebrating the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis Advisory Committee
After an incredible 18-month engagement and 6-part event series, the Social Policy Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth honored the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis advisory committee on Dec. 7, 2021, at Justine Petersen’s Greencubator.
Innovative Practices Can Help Feed Students and Improve FRP Meal Usage in Missouri Schools
After a year of online learning, new research from the Social Policy Institute found a decline in school-provided free and reduced-price (FRP) breakfasts and lunches served by Missouri schools in the 2019-2020 school year. To combat food insecurity, 9% of FRP breakfasts and 12% of FRP lunches were reduced in price, with the remainder being […]
Black college grads sought college degrees as tickets to success. Now they’re buried in debt (Links to an external site)
The St. Louis Public Radio interviewed Jason Jabbari, researcher at SPI, about the harmful effects of student debt, especially on those who did not complete their degree. This article reflect work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social Development in January 2025.
The destabilizing cost of a pandemic: What COVID-19 meant for renters already getting assistance (Links to an external site)
Data from SPI’s survey on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 revealed the vulnerability of renters receiving federal assistance. The findings showed that low-income renters already receiving federal assistance are more likely to be evicted than low-income renters who do not receive federal support. This article reflects work originated by scholars with the Social Policy Institute […]
Food insecurity in Israel during the COVID-19 economic crisis: Prevalence and associations with children’s behaviors
Results from SPI’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel suggested a relationship between the pandemic and rising rates of food insecurity. To explore this, SPI launched another survey, with the results linking food insecurity to behavioral problems in children.
CSD releases new tools for educators
As colleges and universities begin the new academic year, educators in social work and other human-service fields have new tools for equipping students with the knowledge needed to guide clients with financial problems.
Roundtable Recap: Mapping Your Data Impact Journey
How can social sector organizations use data to increase their impact, and how can they ensure that impact will lead to equitable outcomes? These are guiding questions addressed in our roundtable series hosted by the Social Policy Institute’s Data for Social Impact initiative, which kicked off on October 20, 2021, and continues through November 19, […]
U.S. Student Loan Forgiveness Proposals: Who Stands to Benefit? (Links to an external site)
Online Education interviewed Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor at SPI, on student loans and the impacts of student debt forgiveness. This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social Development in January 2025.
Pandemic isolation increasing negative behaviors among children in Israel
Isolation as a result of COVID-19 exposure is a key public health protocol to mitigate the spread of the virus; however, new survey results indicate increased isolations are associated with anger, violence, difficulties sleeping, and prolonged screen time.
New longitudinal Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey calls for sustained public benefit support
The Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis (SPI) released new findings on the impact of COVID-19 on housing hardship, the importance of employment and associated benefits, such as the Payment Protection Program, family hardships, and efficiency of public benefits designed to support households in need, such as SNAP, TANF, and unemployment insurance benefits.
Sherraden receives Billups Award for international leadership
The International Consortium for Social Development has given Michael Sherraden the 2021 James Billups International Social Development Leadership Award. In presenting the award, Consortium President Manohar Pawar recognized Sherraden’s “distinguished contribution to social development theory and practice knowledge based on impactful action in strengthening the financial capacity and asset base for poor people and communities […]
Study on WU partnerships in China wins 2020 Best Article Award
On August 26, 2021, the China Journal of Social Work announced the 2020 Best Article Award, honoring a study by an international team of scholars that includes Center for Social Development (CSD) affiliates Michael Sherraden, Li Zou, Suo Deng, Jin Huang, Margaret Sherraden, and Nancy Morrow-Howell, as well as Shanti Khinduka, former dean of the […]
Biden cuts more student debt but defers on bigger fixes (Links to an external site)
Jason Jabbari, assistant research professor at SPI, discusses the effect of debt forgiveness on educational institutions with Times Higher Education. This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social Development in January 2025.
Prominent Child Development Account experts outline a nationwide policy
A group of experts and researchers is making the case for a nationwide Child Development Account (CDA) policy. The group, which includes CSD Founding Director Michael Sherraden and Policy Director Margaret Clancy, recently released the outline in a pair of CDA policy briefs. The briefs are entitled “The Case for a Nationwide Child Development Account […]
CSD and Partners Launch New Multinational Collaboration in Africa
Mobile phones have become commonplace in sub-Saharan Africa. There, as in other parts of the world, financial technology has proliferated with the expansion of digital access, opening new doors to financial products and services. But this emerging landscape requires financial acumen, and sound guidance can be hard to find.
On July 15, a multinational group of partners gathered virtually to mark the launch of Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa), a new collaboration aimed at meeting these needs.
Inclusive and equitable tech reskilling at LaunchCode in St. Louis (Links to an external site)
Recognizing the shortcomings of equitable hiring and reskilling in the tech sector, LaunchCode, a St. Louis-based technology training organization, implemented a new model for equitable re-skilling by combining computer science training with a paid apprenticeship and by altering its recruitment and retention efforts. SPI partnered with LaunchCode to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts in […]
The Majority Report with Sam Seder (Links to an external site)
Stephen Roll, SPI assistant research professor, was interviewed by Sam Seder about his research on the impacts of student debt forgiveness on households. This content is only available to peacock.tv subscribers (ep 65). This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social […]
St. Louis marks national voting event with teach-in, mayoral proclamation
As she stood at the podium, Gena Gunn McClendon considered the moment. “We’re here to learn. We’re here to teach,” she told those gathered on Saturday, May 8. McClendon, director of the Voter Access and Engagement Initiative with the Center for Social Development in the Brown School at Washington University, leads research to identify voting […]
Student debt forgiveness would impact nearly every aspect of people’s lives (Links to an external site)
With recent calls for student loan debt forgiveness by political leaders, SPI researchers investigated how debt relief could impact household spending and behaviors. Brooking Institute published recent findings on the implications for debt forgiveness on household economic stability and mobility. This article reflects work originated by scholars with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. […]
Tech Companies Want Schools to Use COVID Relief Money on Surveillance Tools (Links to an external site)
Surveillance tools are being marketed as tools to enforce COVID-19 restrictions including mask wearing, social distancing, and contact tracing. However, VICE cites research from SPI data analyst Jason Jabbari & faculty affiliate Odis Johnson to recognize that it can do far more harm than good. This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy […]
SPI researchers win awards for paper at ACCI Conference & VentureCafe STL Fellowship
Stephen Roll and Mathieu Despard, researchers at SPI, recently received the CFP© Board’s ACCI Financial Planning Paper Award for their paper on income loss and financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is given to a well-written paper that focuses on important financial planning issues which can be used by consumers, financial planning professionals, and policymakers […]
Data and the social sector: We are all “data people”
Most of us who have worked in the social sector have interacted with data in some facet of our jobs. Whether applying for grants, evaluating programs, tracking client outcomes, drafting annual reports, or designing dashboards, our effectiveness hinges in part on how well we use data. I still recall in my past work being taken […]
Inequalities in housing hardship declined because everybody is now worse off (Links to an external site)
Over recent months, SPI researchers found that the disproportionate experiences of housing hardship have lessened, but only because everyone became worse off. They also have observe that Black families have become “long-haulers” when it comes to their experience of housing hardship.
How do Americans say they will use direct cash transfers? The answer depends on the frequency and the amount of the payment
From discussions of universal basic income in the 2020 presidential debates to repeated stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, government cash transfers have received a lot of attention recently. When considering a cash transfer program, policymakers usually have an objective in mind, such as reducing economic inequality, improving households’ ability to meet basic needs, or […]
‘High-Surveillance’ Schools Lead to More Suspensions, Lower Achievement (Links to an external site)
New research from Jason Jabbari, SPI data analyst, finds schools that tighten security and surveillance in response to shootings or other acts of violence may worsen long-term academic progress, particularly for Black students.
Cameras Are Being Used To Punish Students, Not Stop School Shooters (Links to an external site)
Forbes recently described a study by Jason Jabbari, SPI researcher, and Odis Johnson, SPI faculty affiliate. The study found increase security meant to protect students has led to high suspensions schools with decrease math achievement and college admission.
New research: Child Development Accounts generate assets, positive outlook, and parental investments
New research from the Center for Social Development (CSD) shows that parents of newborns with Child Development Accounts (CDAs) respond by deepening their commitment to the child’s higher education and their own efforts to save for that education. The findings come from two newly released publications: a research summary of account and savings data from […]
At Conference, Leaders Call for Financial Capability and Asset Building Curriculum in All Schools of Social Work
As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens America’s already deep income and wealth divides, how can financial capability be increased for vulnerable families? What role can social workers play? To take up these questions, more than 100 scholars and practitioners gathered virtually on February 25 for “Theory, Evidence, Education, and Practice in FCAB,” Part 2 of the convening “Financial […]
Huang Delivers First Nationwide Financial Capability Training for Social Workers in China
On January 30, Center for Social Development (CSD) research associate professor Jin Huang delivered the first national financial capability training for Chinese social workers. Speaking to more than 800 attendees, Huang discussed broadening the term “financial literacy” to the concept of “financial capability,” or having both the knowledge to make optimal financial decisions and also […]
New CSD Report Celebrates over 25 Years in the Community
In 2021, the Center for Social Development (CSD) celebrates over 25 years of inquiry, innovation and impact. The newly published report, In the Community, highlights our work’s advancements and illustrates directions in ongoing and future work in St. Louis, the United States and around the world. Founded in 1994, CSD continues to generate pathbreaking innovations in […]
Panel Examines Ways to Enable Convicted Felons Who Have Served Their Time to Rejoin Society
Enabling felons who have completed their sentences to return to productive lives was the theme of a Congressional Briefing conducted online on December 2. The briefing was hosted by the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP) and the Center for Social Development. Moderated by Charles Lewis Jr. of CRISP, Undoing Racism by […]
CSD Initiative Sends Volunteers to Monitor Polls on Nov. 3
Dozens of Brown School students, staff and faculty volunteered at polls across the St. Louis region November 3, helping voters to cast their ballots in what would turn out to be the largest vote total in U.S. history and the highest turnout rate since 1900.
As Korea Celebrates 10 Years of Asset-Building Policy, Sherraden Looks to the Future
Asset-building policies have taken root and are growing in countries across the globe, thanks in large part to strong international partnerships and applied social research. One robust example includes Korea, which marked a decade of asset building on November 12, 2020.
As nation struggles, conference sets sights on equity and financial inclusion
From across a nation struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and a generally difficult year, over 150 scholars and practitioners gathered virtually on September 21 for “FCAB Policies: Race and Inequality in the COVID-19 Era,” Part 1 of the two-part convening “Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, Challenges, and Next Steps.” They gathered to set an […]
CSD’s Trina Shanks Named to Endowed Professorship at the University of Michigan
Trina R. Shanks, a Center for Social Development faculty director and a Brown School alumnus, was installed September 30 as the Howard R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.
With Historic Election Looming, McClendon, Bush, Jones Hold Voter March
On September 22, Gena McClendon, Cori Bush, Tishaura Jones, and others gathered for the John Lewis “Good Trouble” March to the Ballot Box.
Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Child Savings Programs in Israel and Uganda: Oct. 15, 2020
From 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Oct. 15, join the Social Policy Institute (SPI), the International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), and the Next Age Institute (NAI) for a discussion about asset building for long-term child development and CSA programs—with the particular focus on CSAs in Israel and Uganda, which differ greatly in their structure.
Strategies for fostering full inclusion, building statewide CDA policies, and engaging communities among highlights at conference
What would it take to ensure that every child in every state has an account accumulating assets for education beyond high school? How would those assets shape the children and their families? State officials, researchers, nonprofit leaders, program managers, and funders gathered July 16 to take up those questions.
Sun Awarded Aron Doctoral Fellowship by NASW Foundation
Sicong (Summer) Sun, a PhD candidate at the Brown School, has been selected as the 2020-21 Jane B. Aron/Social Work HEALS Doctoral Fellow by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation.
Navigating Research during a Pandemic: Pioneering Study of Child Development Accounts Successfully Gathers Crucial Data
Thirteen years after they began, researchers in a landmark study of asset building in Oklahoma are poised to receive new information gathered despite obstacles posed by COVID-19.
Panel: Social Workers Can Make a Difference in a New Vision of Public Order
Four experts on policing told a congressional briefing on June 30 that the values and training of social workers can be useful tools in re-imagining the nation’s approach to public order and reducing racist violence of police. The online briefing, Black Lives Matter: Social Work and the Future of Policing, was sponsored by the Congressional […]
Zeng, Despard and Fox-Dichter receive award from National Endowment for Financial Education
In May, the National Endowment for Financial Education honored CSD Research Associate Yingying Zeng with an award for “Workplace Financial Counseling: Credit Outcomes Among Lower-Paid, Entry-Level Workers,” a paper she wrote with Mathieu Despard and Sophia Fox-Dichter. Zeng has been working on financial well-being issues since she came to the United States in 2015. As […]
New study examines black male youth reactions to social media videos of community violence
Negative emotional responses tied to identity of the perpetrator.
A Lesson from the Great Recession: Child Development Accounts Can Work in the Wake of COVID-19
The report summarizes findings and recommendations from CDA research to inform policymakers and practitioners operating or considering CDAs in the midst of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
Native Asset Building Coalition Details the Growth of Children’s Savings Initiatives in Tribal Communities
The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Inc. (ONAC) has released its Native Children’s Savings Initiative in the United States report.
New Book Charts Global Progress of Child Development Accounts
Nearly 30 years after the publication of Michael Sherraden’s seminal Assets and the Poor, Child Development Account (CDA) policies and programs are emerging across the globe. Now, a new book edited by Jin Huang, Li Zou and Sherraden showcases the global context of those advancements.
For Black History Month, McClendon Highlights Voting Rights at Numerous Events
With the presidential election looming this year, voting is as important as ever. For Black History Month, Gena Gunn McClendon, director of CSD’s Voter Access and Engagement initiative, participated in numerous events to discuss voter suppression and the crucial importance of the black vote.
In Landmark Publication, Sherraden and Colleagues Laud Partnership between Washington University and Universities in China
In 2018, China celebrated its 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of social work in the country. Both that year and in 2019, Center for Social Development (CSD) Director Michael Sherraden provided keynote addresses for conferences at Peking University (PKU) in Beijing. Emphasizing the importance of longstanding partnerships between Washington University and China, Sherraden said they […]