February 25, 2021, Virtual Conference
Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, Challenges, and Next Steps

February 25, 2021, Virtual Conference
September 24, 2020 and February 25, 2021, Virtual Conference
Hageman, S. A., Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J. M., & Loke, V. (2019). Economic and financial well-being in the social work curriculum: Faculty perspectives. Journal of Social Work Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1661919
Millions of families in the United States are financially unstable, and they have few places to turn for guidance and support. Margaret Sherraden hopes to change that by marshalling a largely overlooked resource: The professionals at thousands of community-based organizations who deliver services to low-income people.
Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., & Collins, J. M. (2018). Financial capability and asset building in vulnerable households: Theory and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
The first textbook to focus on financially vulnerable households is now available from Oxford University Press. “Financial Capability and Asset Building in Vulnerable Households: Theory and Practice” teaches about financial capability and asset building through the stories of four families whose lives unfold over 23 chapters.
To celebrate Financial Capability Month, the Center for Social Development and the Center for Household Financial Stability at the St. Louis Federal Reserve convened a forum, “Coin a Better Future: Reaching Out to Financially Vulnerable Families.”
Watson Grote, M. (2018, May). The pivotal role of human service practitioners in building financial capability (CSD Perspective No. 18-20). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7PG1R9S
Coffey, D. S. (2018, May). Next steps: Whither social work education and financial capability and asset building (CSD Perspective No. 18-16). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7T72H1H
A special event celebrating Financial Capability Month.
Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Johnson, L., Dore, P. Birkenmaier, J., Loke, V., & Hageman, S. (2018). Faculty perspectives on financial capability and asset building in social work education: A research report (CSD Research Report No. 18-14). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7RV0N7P
January 10 to January 11, 2018, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 1307 New York Ave NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC
Loke, V., Birkenmaier, J., & Hageman, S. A. (2017). Financial capability and asset building in the curricula: Student perceptions. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 84-98. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1212751
September 12, 2017 2:00 to 3:30 pm, Center for Social Development and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Springing from work at the Center for Social Development, a Financial Capability and Asset Building initiative is underway in Singapore. Soon social workers there will develop knowledge and skills for working with low-income families on their household finances.
Frey, J. J., Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., & Callahan, C. (2017). Financial capability and asset building in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 79–83. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1256170
The Journal of Social Work Education has posted its January issue with a special section on Financial Capability and Asset Building. The papers originated as part of the Center for Social Development’s 2015 FCAB conference Financial Capability and Asset Building: Advancing Education, Research, and Practice in Social Work.
Lane, L. B., & Pritzker, S. (2016). Toward culturally sensitive financial education interventions with Latinos. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 410–427. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233476
Birkenmaier, J., Sherraden, M. S., Frey, J. J., Callahan, C., & Santiago, A. M. (2016). Financial capability and asset building: Building evidence for community practice. Journal of Community Practice, 24(4), 357–367. doi:10.1080/10705422.2016.1233519
A program specialist from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a senior consultant from ICF helped to lead a recent professional development workshop at the Brown School, “Behind on Bills: Tools to Help Your Clients Secure Greater Financial Well-Being.”
Frey, J. J., Hopkins, K., Osteen, P., Callahan, C., Hageman, S., & Ko, J. (2017). Training social workers and human service professionals to address the complex financial needs of clients. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(1), 118–131. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1212753
We are pleased to share news from and highlight ongoing collaborations with our global partners the Centre for Social Development Asia, at the National University of Singapore, and the Centre for Social Development in Africa, at the University of Johannesburg.
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Washington, D.C.
Sherraden, M. S., Birkenmaier, J., Rochelle, M., & McClendon, G. G. (2015). Financial capability and asset building in social work education: “The big piece missing?” (CSD Working Paper No. 15-44). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Rochelle, M., McClendon, G., Brackett, M., Wright, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2015). Adopting a financial capability and asset building curriculum at historically Black colleges and universities (CSD Working Paper No. 15-36). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Busette, C. (2015, April). How do norms inform our approach to financial empowerment? (CSD Perspective No. 15-28). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Birkenmaier, J., Sherraden, M. S., & Curley, J. (2013). Financial capability and asset development: Research, education, policy, and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
April 15-17, 2015, St. Louis, MO
The Financial Capability & Asset Building initiative was highlighted Tuesday during a celebration showcasing four Washington University in St. Louis initiatives funded by a $5.3 million gift from Wells Fargo Advisors.
“Financial Capability Practice” — a course based on the Center for Social Development’s new Financial Capability & Asset Building curriculum — begins in January at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work.
One of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs believes a college education has a “multiplier” effect. Students learn material through coursework, and then go out into the world and apply that knowledge, in turn helping and teaching others.
May 12-15, 2014, St. Louis, Missouri
Financial capability is central to the success of individuals, families and communities, yet social workers and other human service professionals are often ill-equipped when addressing such issues with financially vulnerable clients.
May 13-15, 2013, St. Louis, Missouri
The three-year project, led by Michael Sherraden, PhD, the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development and the founding director of CSD, will study curricula for training in financial capability.