Social Work Commons^™

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Is Public Website Design An Administrative Burden? The Case Of Snap, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

How do websites for public-benefit programs affect access to benefits?

This brief examines the state websites for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), investigating whether there is a relationship between site design and experience of administrative burdens in SNAP. The authors examine page design using Google’s Lighthouse service and draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,511 low-wage U.S. workers to examine administrative burdens in SNAP. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are used to investigate the relationship between SNAP page design and SNAP quality-control measures. The finding suggest …

The Relationship Between Agency Understaffing And Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

For families trying to enroll in public programs to meet essential needs like food and health care, speed and timeliness can be critical. But people face numerous barriers in enrolling in these programs and in maintaining eligibility once enrolled. This research brief uses a new measure of staff workloads in public benefit agencies for every U.S. state and examines the link between these workloads and the experience of administrative burdens among low-wage workers. The analyses draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Survey.

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Quality Of Life, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence recipients’ quality of life?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on participants’ quality of life, including the ability to meet daily living expenses, the well-being of participants and their …

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Economic Security, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence the economic security of recipients?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on the economic security of program participants, including their experience of economic hardships, their use of the payments, …

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Credit Health, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence the credit of recipients?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings from analyses of administrative credit records on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on the credit scores, payment delinquencies, and credit utilization of participants.

Hardships Increase As Households Rely More On Gig Work, Laura Brugger, Anthony J. Nixon, Amrita Kulkarni, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Gig work has grown substantially in the United States in recent years. Although research has examined the relationship between participation in the gig economy and hardship, few studies examine how households’ reliance on gig work relates to hardship experiences. Drawing upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage workers, this brief explores the relationship between the proportion of a household’s income from gig work and indicators of financial distress: bill payment difficulties, food insufficiency, budget constraints, blood plasma sales, reliance on alternative financial services such as payday loans, and usage of …

Policy Design For Multiple Funding Flows Into Trump Accounts, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson

Center for Social Development Research

The law creating the new Trump Accounts explicitly authorizes employers to provide deposits matching contributions that their employees make to the accounts and also authorizes contributions by philanthropic organizations. Both features are essential for build­ing substantial lifetime assets for America’s children. Implementing them successfully – and ensuring that the funds reach every eligible child efficiently – will require an effective policy platform for routing, verifying, and reporting on third-party contributions. This brief discusses why traditional retail IRAs cannot support matching contributions and how to build a policy platform capable of accommodating multiple contribution streams.

Taking Small Steps With Big Data: Exploring The Impact Of Education On Social Mobility, Yung Chun, Jenrose Fitzgerald, Jason Jabbari

Center for Social Development Research

Historically, education and workforce-development programs have relied on survey data or state-government administrative data to examine program impacts. However, surveys are costly, reasonable comparison groups can be difficult to identify, and results from analyses of a single state’s administrative data can seldom be generalized to enable broader conclusions. This brief discusses a research collaboration between the Center for Social Development, the National Student Clearinghouse, and a large credit bureau. Through this collaboration researchers used large, frequently updated, multi-type (i.e., “big”) data to examine the impact of education and certificate programs on social mobility, as well as racial and gender equity. …