Social Welfare Commons^™

Prahita, Power, And Partnership (Ppp) : Navigating Community-Based Welfare And Clientelism In Myanmar’S Poverty Reduction, Comparative Analysis Of Myanmar And Thailand, Mai Tam Aung Seinn

SOC 605 Comparative Social Policy Research Project - Student Works

Myanmar’s persistent poverty has been deeply rooted in its current political unrest, decades of poor governance, and entrenched clientelism – a system where informal patronage networks exchange material benefits for political loyalty, sidelining equitable welfare delivery (Jones, 2014, Berenschot and Mulder, 2019). The serial issues have now developed into a poly-crisis which consists of a confluence of economic collapse, political instability, and disasters like COVID-19, cyclones, earthquakes, and armed conflicts (UNDP, 2025b). Therefore, the study aims to synthesize Myanmar’s complex interplay between grassroots welfare systems, power dynamics, and external partnerships within Myanmar’s fragile context and proposes to comprehensively investigate poverty …

Wellesley Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Caitlin E. Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Taking a community-engaged approach, this assessment sought to capture the voices, experiences, and aspirations of older adults living in our community. It is designed to support the COA in fulfilling its mission: acting as the community resource for older adults, their families, and caregivers; advocating for their interests; and offering social, educational, physical activity, transportation, and nutrition programs that promote health, independence, and meaningful engagement.

Specifically, this needs assessment aimed to: 1. Describe the demographic and social trends shaping Wellesley’s older adult population. 2. Identify older residents’ priorities, challenges, and unmet needs—spanning health and wellness, housing and mobility, social connection, …

Balancing Act: Addressing Child Quantity-Quality Trade-Off In The Philippine Households With Educational And Health Social Programs, John Andrew A. Alsol, Marie Carroline Magante

Economics Department Faculty Publications

The child quantity-quality (CQQ) trade-off has been extensively studied in economic research since it was first introduced by Becker and Lewis in 1973. Studies have argued that the current economic circumstances and the presence of government aid in education and health determine the existence and extent of the CQQ trade-off. However, there is a dearth of empirically tested research on the possible decreasing effects of social programs on the CQQ trade-off. Using the 2019 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, this paper seeks to determine the effect of education and health social programs on the CQQ trade-off in the Philippines. Probit models …

Urban Welfare Divergence: An Analysis Of The Factors Shaping Social Housing Policy In Berlin And Vienna, Grace Zheng

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

According to Eurostat, property prices across the 27 members of the EU surged by 47% between 2010 and 2022, while rents increased by 18% during the same period. To mitigate the housing crisis, many governments have turned to social housing—affordable housing that is either government-owned or regulated—as a solution. This paper seeks to answer the following question: Why has Vienna adopted significantly more generous income thresholds for social housing eligibility compared to Berlin? In 2024, the highest income threshold for a four-person household to receive a residential entitlement certificate in Berlin (€57,640) was nearly identical to the threshold for a …

Why Aren’T More People Calling 988 For Mental Health Crises?, Michiko Ueda, Colleen M. Heflin, Yanhong Liu, Qingyi Yu, Seethalakshmi Ramanathan

Center for Policy Research

When someone is in a mental health crisis, calling 911 has long been the default response. However, 911 call centers are not well-equipped to handle mental health emergencies, and law enforcement dispatch can result in unnecessary arrests, hospitalizations, or crisis escalation. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in 2022 is a free, confidential alternative, yet awareness remains low and misconceptions persist. Using data from a 2024 national online survey of nearly 1,900 U.S. adults ages 18-50, this brief summarizes findings about awareness of 988, willingness to use it, and concerns about the service. Results show that only 22% of …

Community-Based Food Program Limits In Reducing Older Adult Food Insecurity, Madonna Harrington Meyer, Colleen M. Heflin

Population Health Research Brief Series

Older adults who are grappling with food insecurity may enhance their food supply through community-based programs that provide free and subsidized food. This complicated system, categorized by group meal programs, home-delivered meals, and food provided to be eaten off-site, is complex, expensive, and may be difficult for older adults to use. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief describes three key limits of community-based food programs for older adults. First, the quantity and quality of community-based food programs vary markedly by where one lives. Second, the food may be of poor nutritional …

Cost Of Living For Older Adults (65+) In Mountain West Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 2024, Anirudh Polagani, Annie Vong, Mohit Pande, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

This fact sheet explores 2024 cost of living data for adults over the age of 65 in the largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from the “Elder Index,” a dashboard that focuses on housing, healthcare, food, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses that collectively reflect the monthly expenses for those over the age of 65. This fact sheet focuses on five MSAs in the Mountain West: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO; Las Vegas-Henderson- North Las Vegas, NV; Albuquerque, NM; and Salt Lake City-Murray, UT.

Native American Tribes And Federal Grant Funding In The Mountain West, Fy2023-2025, Isabelle G. Graham, Maisoon Faris, Dre Boyd-Weatherly, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Elections & Governance

This fact sheet presents state-level data on the impact of a federal government-wide funding freeze affecting Native American Tribes, focusing on the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are derived from the Brookings Institution’s “A federal grant freeze could disrupt over $24 billion to Native American communities and undermine US obligations to Tribes” brief, which reports data from USAspending. The original report provides data on the federal government’s obligations, outlays, and remaining balances owed to Native American Tribes for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Analyzing Attitudes On Social Welfare: Partisanship Versus Self-Interest, Jack D. Ryder

Student Publications

What influences Americans' attitudes on social welfare? Why do some Americans vote seemingly against their interests? Using data from the 2020 National Election Survey, this paper will test hypotheses examining how rurality and Republican partisanship are associated with lower favorability toward social welfare spending. This paper will also analyze the current literature on immigration, locality, and partisanship to see how they shape attitudes toward welfare spending. Overall, the regression models show that Republican partisanship is more correlated with support for social welfare cuts than an individual’s rurality. This study is important for understanding how partisanship shapes attitudes on policy and …

Belmont Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Caitlin E. Coyle, Nancy Mazonson, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report presents the results of a comprehensive needs assessment of Belmont’s older adult population. The study was conducted to support planning by the Belmont Council on Aging and Beech Street Senior Center, and it also provides valuable information for other town departments, community organizations, and residents. Specifically, this report aims to: *Describe Belmont’s current older adult population and their needs. *Assess the services and resources currently available. *Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. *Provide recommendations to ensure Belmont remains a supportive, age-friendly community for years to come.

As the number of older residents grows, so too will the need …

Why Aren't More People Calling 988 For Mental Health Crises, Michiko Ueda, Colleen M. Heflin, Yanhong Liu, Qingyi Yu

The Lender Center for Social Justice

In July 2022, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched as a free, confidential alternative to calling 911. Yet a few years into its rollout, awareness of 988 remains low, and misconceptions persist. This brief summarizes findings from our recent study that conducted a national online survey of nearly 1,900 U.S. adults ages 18-50 to understand their awareness of 988, willingness to use it, and the types of concerns they have about 988.

Venezuelan Migrants In Prostitution: A Personal Decision?, Yazmin Maria Lucila Cadena Camargo, Izara Maite Mondragon Moreno, Isabela Osorio Jaramillo, Paula Angélica Suárez Álvarez, Andrés Duarte Osorio, Carlos Gómez-Restrepo

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This paper explores the multifaceted experiences of Venezuelan migrant women engaged in prostitution, framed through three critical moments: the “decision to enter in prostitution,” the unique abuses faced, and the resultant consequences on mental, physical, and social health. The study highlights how socioeconomic vulnerabilities—exacerbated by migration and poverty—significantly influence the likelihood of entering prostitution. It also shows how traumatic experiences, particularly in childhood and adolescence, coupled with a lack of support networks, contribute to a heightened risk of exploitation. Eleven life stories were collected through a phenomenological approach, revealing a common narrative of abuse, poverty, and the search for survival …

Adapting To Inflationary Pressures: Household Coping Strategies In Urban Egypt (2016– 2025), Mohamed Mohamed Ashraf Kamal

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, Egypt has faced persistent economic challenges including repeated currency devaluations, high inflation rates, subsidy reforms such as the gradual reduction of food and energy subsidies, and the ripple effects of global crises that have significantly impacted household well-being, especially in urban areas. These pressures have eroded purchasing power and heightened food insecurity, especially among low- and middle-income families. Although substantial attention has been paid to macroeconomic indicators, there remains a critical gap in understanding how households adapt on a daily basis to manage financial stress and sustain their livelihoods. This inquiry is especially timely, as household …

Fight, Flight, Freeze 2: An Update On Tenants’ Responses To Eviction Across Urban And Rural Oregon, Natalie J. Cholula, Lisa K. Bates, Alex Farrington, Marisa Zapata, Jacen Greene, Colleen Carroll

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the original "Fight, Flight, Freeze" (FFF) report, the Evicted in Oregon researchers reported on the experiences of tenants who faced eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic and their access to resources. This brief provides updated analysis, now including 121 tenants with eviction experiences in Oregon. The analysis includes 13 new focus groups with tenants in both rural and urban Oregon, focusing on the type of support they received while navigating eviction. These groups represent tenants from diverse backgrounds.

Using the fight-flight-freeze framework, we analyzed tenants' reactions to eviction. We also report the resources they accessed after being threatened with eviction …

Nh Ece Research Consortium Spring 2025 Convening Summary & Action Steps, Evan England, Jess Carson

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

The inaugural NH ECE Research Consortium convening in May 2025 welcomed nearly 50 attendees from 29 organizations for a half-day session connecting over research and data. Attendees participated in three activities using the Ecocycle Planning framework. The group sorted NH ECE activities and approaches into three main areas: (1) things we value in which we already invest (or plan to), (2) things we value in which we do not invest, and (3) things that need to change or are already changing. Reflections in each area are summarized here in hopes that the synthesis supports our shared and ongoing efforts to …

The Limits Of Snap In Addressing Older Adult Food Insecurity, Colleen M. Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Population Health Research Brief Series

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to address the economic roots of food insecurity. However, SNAP participation rates among older adults substantially lag behind those of other age groups. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief describes how SNAP is not well designed for older adults in three respects: (1) the high levels of administrative burden associated with eligibility, certification, and benefit-determination processes, (2) the low value of SNAP benefits compared with the high costs associated with redeeming them, and (3) the high levels of state variation in SNAP policies …

Public K-12 School Start Times In The Mountain West, 2020-2021, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

K-12 Education

This fact sheet presents data on public K-12 school start times in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah as of the 2020-2021 school year. The data are derived from the “School start time: Average public K–12 school start time and percentage distribution of public school start time, by state: 2020–21” report originally published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This fact sheet highlights the average public K-12 school start times and distribution of public K-12 school start times for each Mountain West state.

Men Not At Work In Mountain West States, 2024, Maisoon Faris, Otoniel Ramos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet presents December 2024 data on male labor force participation in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The “Men at work: Trends and metrics” report published by the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) provides data on the percentages and numbers of men not in the labor force and divides them into different categories. This fact sheet focuses on the total male population aged 25- 54 not in the labor force due to disability, retirement, or other reasons.

Free Speech At Colleges And Universities In The Mountain West, 2025, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet presents data on free speech at 16 colleges and universities across the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from “The 2026 College Free Speech Rankings,” as originally published by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), and reflect 2025 data. The FIRE report presents free speech ranks, scores, grades, and data on speech controversies for 257 colleges and universities across 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This fact sheet highlights the average free speech scores for each Mountain West state, as well as the free …

The Cost Of Malnutrition In Older Adults In The Mountain West, 2020, Taylor Volk, Anirudh Polagani, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents 2020 data on the annual costs of disease-associated malnutrition for adults aged 65 years and older across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from “Advancing Policies for Quality Malnutrition Care in Older Adults: A Toolkit for State Legislators,” a report published by Defeat Malnutrition Today and Women in Government.