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Articles 1 - 30 of 917

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

The Most Age-Diverse Society In Our Country's History, Cal J. Halvorsen, Logan Fox, Tim B. Zielonko Jul 2026

The Most Age-Diverse Society In Our Country's History, Cal J. Halvorsen, Logan Fox, Tim B. Zielonko

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

The public narrative is that the United States population is getting older. This is, indeed, true. We have more people over age 50 than we have ever had in our country—both in total numbers and in the share of the population. The numbers of older people will continue to grow, all the way up until the projections stop at the year 2100. Many have asked, “What will we do with all of these older people?”

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Data For Social Impact - Data Party Planning Worksheet, Jenrose Fitzgerald, Dan Ferris, Ally Terhaar Jun 2026

Data For Social Impact - Data Party Planning Worksheet, Jenrose Fitzgerald, Dan Ferris, Ally Terhaar

Center for Social Development Research

Data party, data walk, gallery walk, and data placemat—All of these tools are variations on a common theme: the importance of working collaboratively with data. This worksheet discusses ways to design, organize, and lead data parties. It also presents resources to facilitate data collaboration.

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Data Walks That Drive Results: Using Data To Build Impact, Jenrose Fittzgerald, Sara Mohamed, Kameke Payne Jun 2026

Data Walks That Drive Results: Using Data To Build Impact, Jenrose Fittzgerald, Sara Mohamed, Kameke Payne

Center for Social Development Research

Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI), works to ensure that every family served is stable, thriving, and progressing across six impact areas: Family and Housing Stability, Education and Careers, Economic Contribution, Health and Wellness, Civic and Community Engagement, and Community Partnerships. Because USI employs over 200 staff members spread across more than 60 community sites, coordinating data to understand impact is both critical to advancing the organization’s work and a challenge. To address this, USI has developed a performance-measurement approach that brings everyone at the organization into the work and builds a sense of ownership at every level: quarterly data walks. This …

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When Getting Ahead Means Falling Behind: Work And Savings Disincentives In Public Benefits, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard Jun 2026

When Getting Ahead Means Falling Behind: Work And Savings Disincentives In Public Benefits, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Public benefits help millions of workers meet basic needs such as food, health care, housing, and childcare. But for many low-wage workers, these programs can also create a difficult trade-off: Earning more or saving more can sometimes mean losing the benefits they need to keep their family afloat. This brief summarizes key findings from a survey conducted for the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project with a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. The findings suggest elements of a public benefits system that could protect families from economic risk while supporting work, savings, and long-term mobility.

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Innovations In Financial Services For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll Jun 2026

Innovations In Financial Services For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

The financial services landscape in the United States has shifted dramatically in recent years, with technology driving profound changes. New products and services are emerging in a competitive digital marketplace to meet the basic banking, savings, and short-term credit needs of workers. This brief presents findings from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project on the employment and financial circumstances of low-wage workers in the United States and on their use of financial services.

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When The Safety Net Becomes A Barrier: Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard Jun 2026

When The Safety Net Becomes A Barrier: Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

The goal of the U.S. social safety net is to ensure that everyone can meet a basic standard of living, regardless of their economic, health, or life circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two key parts of this safety net, support low-income families in affording food and health care. This brief summarizes findings on seven dimensions of administrative burden in SNAP and Medicaid. The findings come from analyses conducted with data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Project’s survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. They suggest that administrative burdens are common, affect …

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Essential Employer Benefits For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll Jun 2026

Essential Employer Benefits For Low-Wage Workers, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Employer benefits are important for supporting employees’ financial well-being, but are they accessible to low-wage workers? This brief presents findings from a survey conducted for the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project with low-wage workers in the United States. The findings reveal information on respondents’ access to employer benefits, including health insurance, paid sick leave, a retirement plan, and financial-wellness benefits.

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Paths To Stability And Wealth: Evidence From The Habitat For Humanity Wealth Building Project, Yung Chun, Somalis Chy, Laura Evans, Xueying Mei, Stephen Roll Jun 2026

Paths To Stability And Wealth: Evidence From The Habitat For Humanity Wealth Building Project, Yung Chun, Somalis Chy, Laura Evans, Xueying Mei, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Owning a home has long been the most common way for American families build wealth—but for low- and moderate-income families, the route is rarely open and rarely simple. And handing a family the keys does not guarantee that the house will become an asset. This report sets out to answer a hard question: Can homeownership deliver lasting wealth to the families who have been locked out of it the longest, and what does it take to make that happen? This study presents findings from the first national evaluation of the Habitat for Humanity Wealth Building Project. The report examines how …

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Community Programs That Build Connection, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen Jun 2026

Community Programs That Build Connection, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Social connection is a fundamental human need and a critical driver of individual health and well-being. When older adults maintain stable, supportive relationships, they experience significantly better physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes. In response to growing evidence of its public health impact, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated social connection as a global public health priority, and the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory calling for action to address the loneliness epidemic.

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Beyond The Generations: Building A High-Quality Workplace For An Age-Diverse Workforce, Cal J. Halvorsen, Bruna C. Lopez, Erika Sabbath Jun 2026

Beyond The Generations: Building A High-Quality Workplace For An Age-Diverse Workforce, Cal J. Halvorsen, Bruna C. Lopez, Erika Sabbath

Brown School Faculty Publications

At a time when the U.S. is more age diverse than ever before, Americans are extending their careers for financial stability, social connection, and purpose. This article provides a brief background on the history of aging and work, from the late 1800s to present, illustrating the influence that public and organizational policies, as well as personal needs and interests, have on labor force participation. It then provides examples for how employers can create better workplaces for people of all ages, concluding with the case for why more age-inclusive workplaces lead to better results for employees, their families, and their employers.

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Evidence-Based Child Development Account Elements And The 530a Account Design, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Margaret Clancy May 2026

Evidence-Based Child Development Account Elements And The 530a Account Design, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Margaret Clancy

Center for Social Development Research

Drawing on the 10 evidence-based CDA design elements identified by Sherraden, Clancy, and Beverly, this brief examines the points at which 530A Accounts align with, partially meet, or fall short of the design standards that evidence shows are necessary for a universal and effective children’s account policy.

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“We Try To Act So Progressive”: A Multivariate And Interpretive Methods Study Examining Equity, Racialization And Interrelated Systems Of Oppression And Privilege Within Hiv Service Organizations, Gregory Joseph Gross May 2026

“We Try To Act So Progressive”: A Multivariate And Interpretive Methods Study Examining Equity, Racialization And Interrelated Systems Of Oppression And Privilege Within Hiv Service Organizations, Gregory Joseph Gross

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Current data suggests that the U.S. is on track to end the HIV epidemic for white people but not for Black, Latine, and other people of color. National initiatives have emphasized diversifying the workforce as part of the response to inequities in HIV outcomes, and yet the field remains staffed predominantly by white service professionals. Moreover, diversifying the workforce without broader systems change will likely be insufficient to address inequities both for professionals and for oppressed communities. The goal of this dissertation was to examine racialization and interrelated systems of privilege and oppression within HIV service organizations, including public health …

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Center For Social Development Report To The Community: 2026, Center For Social Development, Washington University In St. Louis Apr 2026

Center For Social Development Report To The Community: 2026, Center For Social Development, Washington University In St. Louis

Center for Social Development Research

For more than 30 years, the Center for Social Development (CSD) has been a hub for implementing and testing applied social innovations. As the 2026 "Report to the Community" underscores, we remain dedicated to our mission to advance policies and practices that support individuals, families, and communities in achieving their goals and contributing to society and the economy.

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Enhancing The Well-Being Of Refugees With Disabilities Through Equitable Access To Essential Services: A Participatory Qualitative Study In The United States, Mustafa Rfat Apr 2026

Enhancing The Well-Being Of Refugees With Disabilities Through Equitable Access To Essential Services: A Participatory Qualitative Study In The United States, Mustafa Rfat

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Access to services for refugees with disabilities (RwDs) is critically important for improving their well-being and enhancing their integration. This population often faces prolonged exclusion that begins in their country of origin and often continues to worsen during displacement, leading to accumulated disparities. Because the United States (U.S.) refugee program is structured around rapid employment, refugees who do not fit the fast-track employment criteria are often left behind. RwDs are often considered unemployable, which automatically shifts resources and services away from them. Abandoning RwDs during the critical period of resettlement puts them at heightened risk of increased and long-term exclusion. …

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Comments On Proposed Regulations Reg-117270-25: Trump Accounts Under Section 530a, Jin Huang, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Stephen Roll Apr 2026

Comments On Proposed Regulations Reg-117270-25: Trump Accounts Under Section 530a, Jin Huang, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

In December 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department published a notice of intent to issue regulations concerning Trump Accounts (also known as 530A accounts), requesting public comments on proposed regulations for the Trump Accounts Contribution Pilot Program. This testimony presents comments submitted n response. Drawing on decades of Child Development Account research, including insights from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK), the authors urge Treasury to adopt automatic enrollment to ensure that all eligible children— not only those whose families actively enroll them—receive the $1,000 pilot-program contribution. They outline federal–state implementation pathways using Social Security number data, recommend layered …

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Early Postsecondary Use Of Assets In Seed Ok: Cda Distributions Through 2025, Jin Huang, Margaret Clamcy, Mark Schreiner, Lissa Johnson, Michael Sherraden Apr 2026

Early Postsecondary Use Of Assets In Seed Ok: Cda Distributions Through 2025, Jin Huang, Margaret Clamcy, Mark Schreiner, Lissa Johnson, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

The SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK) is a large-scale policy test of universal, automatic, and progressive Child Development Accounts (CDAs). In late 2007, each newborn in the experiment’s treatment group received a CDA seeded with a deposit of $1,000. This brief presents the first findings on the distribution of funds from those accounts.

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Comments On Proposed Regulations Reg-117002-25: Trump Accounts Contribution Pilot Program, Jin Huang, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Stephen Roll Apr 2026

Comments On Proposed Regulations Reg-117002-25: Trump Accounts Contribution Pilot Program, Jin Huang, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

In March 2026, the Internal Revenue Service announced issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on the Trump Accounts Contribution Pilot Program and solicited comments on the proposed regulations. This testimony presents comments submitted in response to that call. The comments focus specifically on auto¬matic enrollment as addressed in the proposed regulations and provide recommendations for regulatory amendments to imple¬ment automatic enrollment within the existing legal framework for 530A accounts (known as Trump Accounts).

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National Fund For Children In Kazakhstan: Vision And Purpose, Askhat Aimagambetov Apr 2026

National Fund For Children In Kazakhstan: Vision And Purpose, Askhat Aimagambetov

Center for Social Development Research

This Perspective presents the address given by Askhat Aimagambetov, honorable member of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the occasion of “The National Fund for Children of Kazakhstan: Policy Innovation and Potential for Global Impacts,” an international symposium held at Maqsut Narikbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, on October 30, 2025. The Center for Social Development is honored to publish his remarks.

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Mental Health In Rural School-Age Youth: Examining Trends In Adverse Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, And Family Resilience From 2018-2023, Mary Katherine Shires Mar 2026

Mental Health In Rural School-Age Youth: Examining Trends In Adverse Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, And Family Resilience From 2018-2023, Mary Katherine Shires

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined trends in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), positive childhood experiences (PCEs), family resilience, and mental health conditions in rural and urban youth in the United States from 2018-2023. It also assessed whether PCEs and family resilience moderated the association between ACEs and youth mental health and whether these relationships differed by geographic setting and across time. Data were drawn from six years (2018-2023) of the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), a nationally representative, cross-sectional, caregiver-reported survey assessing child wellbeing. The analytic sample included school-age youth (ages 6-17) residing in states that reported metropolitan (urban) versus non-metropolitan (rural) …

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Child Development Accounts Reduce Adolescent Behavior Problems, Jin Huang, Yingying Zeng, Michael Sherraden Feb 2026

Child Development Accounts Reduce Adolescent Behavior Problems, Jin Huang, Yingying Zeng, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Adolescence can be a challenging time, and a body of research has investigated options for addressing adolescent behavior problems. This brief presents findings from a new line of inquiry. The analyses presented here draw upon data from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment, a test of a statewide Child Development Account (CDA) policy in Oklahoma. The findings indicate that CDAs positively shape the frequency of adolescent behavior problems.

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Comments On Treasury Notice 2025-68, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden Feb 2026

Comments On Treasury Notice 2025-68, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

In December 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced their intent to issue regulations concerning Trump Accounts (also known as 530A accounts), requesting public comments on the intended regulations and related provisions. This testimony presents comments submitted in response to that request. In it, Jin Huang and Michael Sherraden summarize evidence from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK), Maine’s My Alfond Grant, and Rhode Island’s CollegeBound Baby on the effectiveness of automatic enrollment in policy. They discuss the use of Social Security numbers, a centralized clearing fund, and a designated custodian network as tools …

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How Disaster Risk Shapes Voter Turnout, Laura Brugger, Pedro Spindler-Ruiz, J.S. Onesimo Sandoval Feb 2026

How Disaster Risk Shapes Voter Turnout, Laura Brugger, Pedro Spindler-Ruiz, J.S. Onesimo Sandoval

Center for Social Development Research

Climate disasters are intensifying. With the intensification comes a growing threat to democracy in the United States and to the communities that depend on fair representation. When disaster strikes, barriers arise that can silence voters, especially in communities already facing systemic inequality. This brief presents findings from an analysis of precinct-level turnout in the 2020 U.S. presidential election across over 2,000 precincts in the three cities. The cities were chosen for their size, diversity, and exposure to climate threats: hurricanes in Miami, Florida, wildfires in Los Angeles, California, and flooding in San Antonio, Texas. The findings underscore the need to …

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How Do Social Isolation And Loneliness Vary By Age?, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen Feb 2026

How Do Social Isolation And Loneliness Vary By Age?, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Social isolation and loneliness, which are experienced by many older adults, can negatively impact health and well-being. Although often used interchangeably, social isolation is defined as an objective lack of social ties (e.g., number of close family members or friends) and loneliness as an internal sense of disconnection (e.g., feeling alone even when surrounded by others). Because social relationships, health, and life circumstances change as we age, patterns of social isolation and loneliness may differ by age group. Therefore, this research brief asks, How do patterns of social isolation and loneliness differ across age groups among community-dwelling older adults? 

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Examining Patterns In Childcare Utilization For Low-Wage Workers And Their Access To Government And Employer-Based Childcare Supports, Amrita Kulkarni, Laura Brugger, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang, Mathieu Despard Jan 2026

Examining Patterns In Childcare Utilization For Low-Wage Workers And Their Access To Government And Employer-Based Childcare Supports, Amrita Kulkarni, Laura Brugger, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

For parents in the United States, childcare costs are one of the largest expenses in the budget. This brief examines the childcare arrangements low-wage workers adopt, their difficulties in accessing and affording childcare, and the extent to which they utilize childcare benefits offered by their employers or the government. To do so, we use on data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. For these analyses, the sample includes only workers with children under the age of 6.

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Barriers To Entry, Barriers To Exit: Exploring The Relationship Between Administrative Burdens And Work Disincentives In Public Benefits Programs, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang, Mathieu Despard Jan 2026

Barriers To Entry, Barriers To Exit: Exploring The Relationship Between Administrative Burdens And Work Disincentives In Public Benefits Programs, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Through the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility project, the Center for Social Development has explored how the design of the U.S. public benefits system creates barriers to the economic stability and mobility of low-wage workers. The first of these barriers is the administrative burdens embedded in public benefits, which refers to the difficulties and stresses potential beneficiaries experience learning about a program, complying with program rules, or interacting with program staff. The second of these barriers is the work and savings disincentives many public benefits programs create through their eligibility rules, which can punish beneficiaries for earning or saving more …

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Digital Financial Innovations, Investment Behaviors, And The Financial Well-Being Of Low-Wage Workers, Jayden Liu, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard Jan 2026

Digital Financial Innovations, Investment Behaviors, And The Financial Well-Being Of Low-Wage Workers, Jayden Liu, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Digital financial innovations (DFI) are an increasingly prominent part of the financial market. These innovations may be attractive to low-wage workers as alternative investment vehicles. This brief examines low-wage workers' use of DFIs through their ownership of digital trading accounts and investment in several financial assets, including assets that are traditionally more stable as well as newer, nontraditional assets that may carry higher risk, across income levels and employment status. We also investigate whether workers reported receiving returns from using these assets, and finally, we compare use of traditional assets and nontraditional assets against workers’ savings, with emphasis on the …

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Employment Circumstances And Use Of Financial Services Among Low-Wage Workers, Anthony Nixon Jr., Mathieu Despard Jan 2026

Employment Circumstances And Use Of Financial Services Among Low-Wage Workers, Anthony Nixon Jr., Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Work arrangements have become increasingly varied in recent years, with much labor-market participation happening outside of traditional full-time roles. As gig work and other forms of self-employment,  contract labor, and part-time positions grow, and work arrangements diversify, employment instability is a growing concern,  especially for low-wage workers. This brief presents original evidence on the use of financial services among low-wage workers in the United States. Data come from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,511 U.S. workers earning less than 250% of the federal poverty line.

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Workforce Economic Inclusion And Stability In The United States And United Kingdom: Summary Findings, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll, Kristian Fuzi, Adele Atkinson, Louise Overton Jan 2026

Workforce Economic Inclusion And Stability In The United States And United Kingdom: Summary Findings, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll, Kristian Fuzi, Adele Atkinson, Louise Overton

Center for Social Development Research

Through a partnership between the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University in St. Louis (United States) and the Centre on Household Savings and Asset Management (CHASM) at the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom),the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project has explored a host of issues affecting low-wage workers and their families in the United States and the United Kingdom. CSD and CHASM analyzed survey datasets from their respective countries to produce a set of insights regarding the challenges low-wage workers and their families face. This Research Summary discusses and synthesizes key findings organized by cross-cutting themes to …

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Employment Stability And Security Of Low-Wage Workers In The United States, Mathieu Despard, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll Jan 2026

Employment Stability And Security Of Low-Wage Workers In The United States, Mathieu Despard, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

One quarter of workers in the United States make $35,000 or less, and nearly half of these are between 35 and 64 years old. Forty percent are caring for children in the home. As temporary and gig working arrangements become increasingly common, this brief explores the stability of work and income for low-wage workers. The analyses draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey administered to a nationally representative sample of U.S. workers earning less than 250% of the federal poverty line. The findings from this work have direct implications for employment practices and labor policies.

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Does The Impact Of Volunteering On Health Differ By Wealth? [Research In Brief: Volunteering], Seoyoun Kim, Cal J. Halvorsen Jan 2026

Does The Impact Of Volunteering On Health Differ By Wealth? [Research In Brief: Volunteering], Seoyoun Kim, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Volunteering among older adults has many potential health benefits; however, older adults with more wealth are also more likely to volunteer in the first place, raising the question of whether they are the ones reaping the most benefits. This study asked two questions: (1) Does formal volunteering improve self-reported health and reduce depressive symptoms in older adults? (2) Does the impact of volunteering on these outcomes differ between older adults in the lowest and highest wealth quintiles?

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