Social Work Commons^™

The Seed For Oklahoma Kids Experiment: Initial Account Opening And Savings, Robert Zager, Youngmi Kim, Yunju Nam, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

The SEED for Oklahoma Kids Experiment: Initial Account Opening and Savings

The Seed For Oklahoma Kids Experiment: Initial Account Opening And Savings, Robert Zager, Youngmi Kim, Yunju Nam, Margaret M. Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

The SEED for Oklahoma Kids Experiment: Initial Account Opening and Savings

From Helena To Harlem: Experiences Of Lower-Income Rural And Urban Parents In Childrens Savings Account Programs, Edward Scalon, Leann Wittman

Center for Social Development Research

This report focuses on a qualitative study of parents and other parents who were involved in the SEED program at the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City and the Southern Good Faith Fund in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. In-depth interviews with the caregivers of child participants were designed to help provide a richer understanding of perceived facilitators and obstacles to saving, perceived effects of saving, and participants’ experiences of various program features. This report focus on three of our primary research concerns: perceived saving facilitators, perceived saving barriers, and perceived impacts of SEED participation.

Do Parental Assets Matter For Children's Educational Attainment?: Evidence From Mediation Tests, Youngmi Kim, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This study investigates (1) the effects of parental assets on children’s educational attainment from high school completion to college degree attainment, and (2) mediating roles played by parental involvement, child’s educational expectations, and child’s self-esteem. The study sample (N=632) is drawn from the Child and Young Adult data supplement to the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1979. Results indicate that parental assets are associated with children’s later educational attainment. Financial assets and home-ownership are significantly associated with high school completion and college attendance. In addition, family income becomes non-significant when specific measures of assets and liabilities are taken into account. …

Emerging Perspectives On International Volunteerism In Asia, Caroline Brassard, Margaret S. Sherraden, Benjamin J. Lough

Center for Social Development Research

Created for the International Forum on Development Service’s FORUM Research series, this paper presents an assessment of knowledge on international volunteerism in Asia. Data for the assessment come from an online survey of 80 organizations that send volunteers to Asian countries, face-to-face interviews conducted with staff in 47 organizations, and focus group discussions with 32 volunteers after their return from international service. The findings have implications for volunteers, their managers, hosting organizations, researchers, and policymakers. The paper served as the foundation for the Forum Research 2010 address before the annual conference of International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations. Slides as video from …

Lessons From Seed: A National Demonstration Of Child Development Accounts, Michael Sherraden, Julia Stevens, Deborah Adams, Ray Boshara, Margaret Clancy, Reid Cramer, Bob Friedman, Rochelle Howard, Karol Krotki, Ellen Marks, Lisa Mensah, Bryan Rhodes, Carl Rist, Edward Scanlon, Trina Williams Shanks, Michael Sherraden, Julia Stevens, Leigh Tivol, Robert Zager

Center for Social Development Research

Lessons From SEED: A National Demonstration of Child Development Accounts

Saving For College: A Policy Primer, Margaret M. Clancy, Terry Lassar, Krista Taake

Center for Social Development Research

To help address the rapidly rising cost of higher education—an obstacle to college access and completion for many low- and moderate-income families—it is increasingly important to save for college. This report highlights key policy considerations and challenges, along with specific strategies, to make 529 college savings plans more accessible to families of all incomes.

Household Assets And Food Stamp Program Participation Among Eligible Low-Income Households, Jin Huang, Yunju Nam, Nora Wikoff

Center for Social Development Research

This study examines the association between asset ownership and Food Stamp Program participation among eligible households using a sample from a longitudinal national survey. This study employs two approaches: A multinomial model on the level of program participation and an event history analysis on the duration of eligible nonparticipation spells. Analysis results show that home, vehicle, and bank account ownership are negatively related to program participation, suggesting that asset ownership may reduce low-income households’ chances of receiving food assistance. It is recommended that program administrators liberalize asset eligibility rules and simplify procedures to facilitate program participation among low-income asset owners.

Partnership Development Among Mental Health Organizations, Alicia C. Bunger

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health organizations can play a key role in enhancing youths' access to care by working together to bridge gaps in service delivery systems. This dissertation study examines partnerships among a network of children's behavioral health organizations. The specific aims are to (1) describe and understand the network of partnerships among members of the Children's Services Coalition, (2) assess the capacity of the system to provide coordinated service delivery, and (3) test how patterns of organizational characteristics influence conditions that facilitate and inhibit partnerships among the Children's Service Coalition organizations.

This dissertation is a predominantly quantitative cross-sectional network study of …

Estimating The Life Course Dynamics Of Asset Poverty, Mark R. Rank, Thomas A. Hirschl

Center for Social Development Research

Poverty can be conceptualized and measured in several different ways. The most common approach has been to rely on a scarcity of income as the basis for poverty. This paper analyzes poverty using a relatively new and alternative measuring stick—that of asset poverty. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we examine the extent to which individuals have enough assets to allow them to live for three months above the official poverty line. Households that fail to have the necessary amount of assets are considered asset poor. Three different measures of counting assets are used in this paper—net …

Saving For Post-Secondary Education In American Indian Communities, Amy Locklear Hertel, Mary Elizabeth Jäger

Center for Social Development Research

Saving for Post-Secondary Education in American Indian Communities

Youth Savings In Developing Countries: Trends In Practice, Gaps In Knowledge, Jamie Zimmerman, Jamie M. Zimmerman, David Ansong, Shweta S. Banerjee, Ray Boshara, Gina Chowa, Rani Deshpande, Lissa Johnson, Rainier Masa, Kate Mckee, Margaret Miller, Margaret Sherraden, Michael Sherraden, Fred Ssewamala, Thierry Van Bastelaer, Jamie M. Zimmerman, Li Zou

Center for Social Development Research

Youth Savings in Developing Countries: Trends in Practice, Gaps in Knowledge

Perceived Impacts Of International Service On Volunteers: Interim Results From A Quasi-Experimental Study, Amanda Moore Mcbride, Benjamin J. Lough, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

There is growing interest in the potential of international service to foster international understanding between peoples and nations and to promote global citizenship and intercultural cooperation, and international service may be growing in prevalence worldwide. Despite the scale of international service, its impacts are not well understood. Although there is a growing body of descriptive evidence about the various models and intended outcomes of international service, the overwhelming majority of research is based on case and cross-sectional studies, which do not permit conclusions about the impacts of international service. This paper reports on a quasi-experimental study that assesses perceptions of …

Saving For Post-Secondary Education In American Indian Communities: A Geospatial And Quantitative Analysis, Amy Locklear Hertel, Mary Elizabeth Jäger

Center for Social Development Research

A college education is critical to achieving financial stability in the United States. Empirical evidence linking college completion to higher incomes supports this assertion (Bergman, 2006). Every child should have the opportunity to obtain a post-secondary education and achieve financial stability. However, little is known about the practices and behaviors of American Indians when it comes to saving for post-secondary education. This pilot study is the first in this regard. There are two objectives for this study. The first is to assess spatially NC 529 College Savings Plan (NC 529 Plan or Plan) awareness and ownership among American Indian participants …

Seoul Hope Plus Savings Accounts: Asset-Building Program For Low-Income Households In Seoul, Mihyun Kim, Jisung Kwon, Sunwook Chung, Hyunmira Hong, Yunju Nam, Youngmi Kim, Eunlye Lee

Center for Social Development Research

Seoul Hope Plus Savings Accounts: Asset-Building Program for Low-Income Households in Seoul

The Basics Of Progressive 529s, Center For Social Development

Center for Social Development Research

The Basics of Progressive 529s

Youth Savings Around The World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, And Potential Impacts, Rainier Masa, Margaret Sherraden, Li Zou, Fred Ssewamala, Lissa Johnson, David Ansong, Gina Chowa, Michal Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Youth Savings Around the World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, and Potential Impacts

Youth Savings Around The World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, And Potential Effects, Rainier Masa, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Li Zou, Fred Ssewamala, Lissa Johnson, David Ansong, Gina Chowa, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Youth Savings Around the World: Youth Characteristics, Savings Performance, and Potential Effects

College Savings Plan Accounts At Birth: Maine's Statewide Program, Margaret M. Clancy, Terry Lassar

Center for Social Development Research

The Harold Alfond College Challenge offers $500 to every child in the state enrolled in Maine’s NextGen college savings plan within 1 year from birth. As the first U.S. example of a statewide Child Development Account, the Alfond Challenge is a laboratory to study and learn from Maine’s experience. This CSD policy brief provides an overview of the Alfond Challenge, examines administrative and enrollment challenges, and offers recommendations and federal and state policy directions.

Staying On Course: The Effects Of Savings And Assets On The College Progress Of Young Adults, Sondra G. Beverly, William Elliott Iii

Center for Social Development Research

Staying on Course: The Effects of Savings and Assets on the College Progress of Young Adults

Staying On Course: The Effects Of Savings And Assets On The College Progress Of Young Adults, William Elliott Iii, Sondra G. Beverly

Center for Social Development Research

Increasingly, college graduation is seen as a necessary step toward achieving the American Dream. However, large disparities exist in graduation rates. This study examines the college progress of young adults. Findings suggest that 57% of young adults between the ages of 17 and 23 are “on course,” that is, are currently attending or have graduated from college. Those with family assets and savings of their own are more likely to be on course. In multivariate analysis, both net worth and youth school savings are strong predictors of college progress. Youth school savings and parental savings for youth are strong predictors …

Poverty, Vulnerability, And Provision Of Healthcare In Afghanistan, Jean-Francois Trani, Parul Bakhshi, Ayan A. Noor, Dominque Lopez, Ashraf Mashkoor

Brown School Faculty Publications

This paper presents findings on conditions of healthcare delivery in Afghanistan. There is an ongoing debate about barriers to healthcare in low-income as well as fragile states. In 2002, the Government of Afghanistan established a Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS), contracting primary healthcare delivery to non-state providers. The priority was to give access to the most vulnerable groups: women, children, disabled persons, and the poorest households. In 2005, we conducted a nationwide survey, and using a logistic regression model, investigated provider choice. We also measured associations between perceived availability and usefulness of healthcare providers. Our results indicate that the …

International Volunteerism In The United States, 2008, Benjamin Lough

Center for Social Development Research

Over one million individuals reported volunteering internationally in 2008. Young or middle-aged, White, college graduates with higher incomes, employed full-time, and married without dependent children were the most frequent candidates for volunteer service abroad. The majority of international volunteers served with a faith-based organization. Data for this report were gathered from the September 2004 through September 2009 volunteer supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS)—a monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households. The volunteer supplement includes questions about service performed domestically and abroad. Two items specifically assess the rate and frequency of international volunteer service. More detailed information about sampling, definitions, …

Asset Building In The South: Organizations And Services, Gena Gunn, Jennifer Heffern, Karen Edwards

Center for Social Development Research

Asset Building in the South: Organizations and Services

Assets And Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, And Children's College Education, Min Zhan, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Assets and Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, and Children's College Education

Assets And Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, And Children's College Education, Min Zhan, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This study examines the extent to which household assets and liabilities are related to disparities in children’s college attendance and college graduation among White, Black, and Hispanic families. Results indicate that, after household assets are considered, a substantial portion of the Black-White gap in college attendance and college graduation disappears, and a small portion of the Hispanic-White gap in college graduation also disappears. Separate analyses of children from each racial/ethnic group further indicate that family income and financial assets are related to White children’s college attendance and graduation, but nonfinancial assets and unsecured debt are associated with college attendance and …

Earned Income Tax Credit (Eitc) Utilization In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Amy Locklear Hertel

Center for Social Development Research

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Utilization in Native Communities

Savings And Financial Services In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Kristen Wagner

Center for Social Development Research

Savings and Financial Services in Native Communities

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (Vita) Sites In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Amy Locklear Hertel

Center for Social Development Research

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites in Native Communities

Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation, Terry Lassar, Margaret M. Clancy, Sarah Mcclure

Center for Social Development Research

A number of states have created inclusive 529 policy strategies to make college savings plans more accessible and easier to use for families at all income levels. These strategies include facilitating enrollment and contributions, removing saving disincentives, increasing saving incentives, and strengthening tax benefits. In this report, we examine these inclusive state policy strategies, describe their application through legislative and administrative means, and point to specific examples.A related policy brief by the same title is also available.