Congratulations to the fifth cohort of the Graduate Policy Scholars who were inducted as scholars this May. Students represented departments across the university, including the Brown School, School of Medicine, School of Law, and the Olin Business School. The students who completed this rigorous program learned and engaged with policy as they developed their skills […]
Author: Social Policy Institute
Jabbari awarded $512,000 grant from William T. Grant Foundation (Links to an external site)
The Record announced a recent William T. Grant award for an education-based research grant with a research-practitioner partnership conducted by Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor of SPI.
The problem with schools turning to surveillance after mass shootings (Links to an external site)
Vox shares research on the impact of surveillance on children’s educational outcomes by Jason Jabbari, research assistant professor of SPI, and Odis Johnson, faculty affiliate of SPI.
Disparate financial assistance support for small business owners
Small business owners experienced a drastic economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Government pandemic assistance failed to reach many small business owners, especially those historically underserved by financial institutions. Drawing on a 2021 survey of 246 small business owners, the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis descriptively examined the extent to […]
The financial impacts of a near-miss with natural disasters
By Dan Zhao, postdoctoral research associate, and Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director When disaster strikes, it is easy to neglect the people on the boundaries. When assessing the impact of adverse economic shocks, whether it be natural disasters, pandemics, or factory shutoffs, the focal point is on those who were directly devastated by the shock. However, the […]
It’s a Process, Not a Product: Building Equitable Data Infrastructure
Join us at 10 a.m. on July 14, 2022, to connect with social sector colleagues to learn how to build equitable, client-centered data infrastructure.
Sharing Data, Sharing Power: Tools and Tensions in Collective Data Efforts
Join us at 1 p.m. on June 15, 2022, to learn about transparent, equitable, and actionable practices for sharing data across organizations and sectors in St. Louis and beyond.
Ramadan Just Ended. Its High Economic Price Is Here to Stay (Links to an external site)
In an exclusive with The Marker, the Social Policy Institute investigated the economic impact of Ramadan in Israel.
As the expanded child tax credit draws to a close, yet another study highlights its positive impact (Links to an external site)
The Marketplace interviewed Elaine Maag, senior fellow of the Tax Policy Center and co-author of the Child Tax Credit report by SPI, on the impacts the credit had on the financial security of American families.
The impacts of the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit on family employment, nutrition, and financial well-being
The 2021 temporary expansion of the child tax credit (CTC) was unprecedented in its reach, lifting 3.7 million children out of poverty as of December 2021. It provided families with up to $3,600 for every child in the household under the age of six and up to $3,000 for every child between the ages of […]
New report suggests Child Tax Credit reduced usage of high-cost financial services
Press Release: April 14, 2021 St. Louis (April 14, 2022)— In a new report published with the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings Institution, researchers at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis and Appalachian State University found that families who were eligible for the child tax credit (CTC) experienced improved nutrition, decreased […]
Data-Informed, Equity-Driven: Cultivating a Collaborative Data Culture
Thanks for joining us for the event on May 4, 2022! Find resources and the recording to learn more about cultivating a data culture that centers on collaboration and equity.
Start Where You Are: Mapping a Journey Toward Equitable Data Practice
Join us at 1 p.m. on April 6, 2022, to connect with social sector colleagues around actionable tools for crafting a data strategy aligned with your mission and values
SPI sessions at Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
Three Social Policy Institute researchers will present their papers and host discussions at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) conference on March 28-29, 2022. Below are the papers and discussions presented by the SPI team. 10:15 a.m. (CT) on Monday, March 28, 2022 “Precarious Homeownership and Housing Inequity During the COVID-19 Pandemic” […]
We Are All Data People: An Equity-Centered Approach to Increasing Impact
The launch of a series of free learning opportunities for increasing social sector impact, capacity and connection around data. About this event Social sector organizations can increase their impact and advance their missions by cultivating effective, ethical, and equitable data practices. Based on St. Louis social sector input, the Data Science for Social Impact initiative […]
Child Tax Credit helped some parents start their own business, study finds (Links to an external site)
Stephen Roll, associate director of research at the Social Policy Institute, was interviewed by Yahoo! Money about a recent survey that found that employment did not decline during the period that the Child Tax Credit was in effect.
Study: Enhanced Child Tax Credit Helped Parents Start Own Businesses (Links to an external site)
The Center for the National Interest highlighted SPI’s study finding that the Child Tax Credit supported parents to start their own small businesses.
Money on the table: child credit $ available via tax returns (Links to an external site)
Business Insider shared research from SPI that found that the Child Tax Credit hasn’t changed employment.
Analysis: Child Tax Credit Did Not Cause Labor Force Exit (Links to an external site)
The Center for the National Interest discussed SPI’s recent Child Tax Credit (CTC) study which found that the CTC did not create a significant change in the labor force.
Inclusive Growth in St. Louis Events
Who benefits from economic growth in St. Louis? Despite promises of job creation, increasing home values, new businesses, and representative leadership in St. Louis, the benefits of economic growth have not been equally, nor equitably, distributed. As the economy rebuilds itself from COVID-19 devastation, now is the time to consider how St. Louis can become […]
Apprenticeships increase employment, earnings, and optimism in the technology sector (Links to an external site)
Given the novel and rapidly changing nature of the labor market, learning new skills quickly will become an increasingly important aspect of workforce development and social mobility. The Social Policy Institute investigates LaunchCode, a St. Louis boot camp with an apprenticeship model, as a viable option to increase wealth-building opportunities and upskill a more diverse labor […]
How Wealth Inequality Shapes Life in the St. Louis Region (Links to an external site)
Yung Chun, data analyst III at SPI, and Selina Miller, postdoctoral research assistant, were interviewed by the St. Louis Public Radio on wealth inequality in the U.S.
Beyond the Buzzwords: What is “Data Science for Social Impact,” and why does it matter?
Social sector organizations can increase impact, both individually and collectively, by being more strategic in how they engage with data. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a range of processes and practices for individuals and organizations to consider as they grapple with complex challenges in their communities.
People want to change professions but cannot afford it (Links to an external site)
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, and Oren Heller, postdoctorate researcher, were interviewed by Ynet about a study on access to new vocational training in Israel.
Six months of advance CTC payments have dramatically reduced childhood poverty and improved family finances (Links to an external site)
A Joint Economic Hearing Report highlighted SPI’s study on the usage and impacts of the Child Tax Credit in the U.S.
Anxious men, depressed women: Welcome to the dark side of working from home (Links to an external site)
The Marker discussed SPI findings on the impacts of working from home on the Israeli workforce.
Building a better safety net for small businesses (Links to an external site)
In an op-ed by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, SPI, and Salah Goss, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, SPI research suggests that more equitable financial policies and services are needed to support small businesses.
Food insecurity in Israel during the COVID-19 economic crisis: Prevalence and associations with children’s behaviors
Results from SPI’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel suggested a relationship between the pandemic and rising rates of food insecurity. To explore this, SPI launched another survey, with the results linking food insecurity to behavioral problems in children.
Graduate Policy Scholars 2021-2022 cohort expands university reach
The Graduate Policy Scholars program kicked off its fifth year with a cohort spanning the Washington University in St. Louis campus. Fifty-seven students were invited to participate in this year’s program. While originally founded as a program for Brown School students, SPI has helped to expand the program across the university, with nearly 1/3 of […]
Roundtable Recap: Mapping Your Data Impact Journey
How can social sector organizations use data to increase their impact, and how can they ensure that impact will lead to equitable outcomes? These are guiding questions addressed in our roundtable series hosted by the Social Policy Institute’s Data Science for Social Impact initiative, which kicked off on October 20, 2021, and continues through November […]
Advocacy & Allyship: Welcoming Afghans to St. Louis | Open Classroom (Links to an external site)
The St. Louis area is preparing to welcome up to 1,000 Afghans as part of the effort to resettle thousands who worked in support of the U.S. during two decades of conflict. Join this conversation, moderated by Brown School Associate Dean for Global Strategy & Programs Lindsay Stark, to hear perspectives from people deeply engaged […]
Data Science for Social Impact Roundtable Series
The purpose of the Data Science for Social Impact (DSSI) public roundtable discussions is to gather feedback on prospective resources, tools and trainings, facilitate dialogue about key topics, and build connection and community while identifying St. Louis social sector priorities and considerations. Roundtable discussions welcome participants with a wide range of data experience, incorporate equitable […]
Resilience and Reinvention: Lessons from the Pandemic (Links to an external site)
This two-part forum will present exciting new research arising from ongoing international collaborations involving McDonnell Academy partner institutions. It will feature presentations by researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and their collaborators around the globe on the impacts and lessons of Covid-19.
Promoting Childhood Vaccination During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As schools start back up, many parents are concerned about the health effects of COVID-19 in children. However, childhood diseases beyond COVID-19 are still threats to children’s well-being. In the early stages of the pandemic, there was a large decrease in childhood vaccination rates for diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, measles and mumps.
Apply to become a Graduate Policy Scholar!
Applications for the Graduate Policy Scholar program are now open to all graduate students at Washington University in St. Louis! The Graduate Policy Scholar program provides students from all fields of study with impactful opportunities and training in policy. Offered by the Social Policy Institute and the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, the yearlong program provides students […]
New study shows how Virginians are using the Child Tax Credit (Links to an external site)
The Augusta Free Press shared research which examined how Virginians are using their Child Tax Credit to care for their families from the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis in partnership with Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Can students be safe in school when COVID-19 spikes? (Links to an external site)
The Jerusalem Post shared recent SPI findings that 52% of parents said they did not feel safe about sending their children back to school in August.
‘A manic moment’ for renters as Supreme Court ends eviction moratorium (Links to an external site)
Yung Chun, data analyst III at SPI, discussed the implications of the end of the eviction moratorium and the impact on renters with a reporter from the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Biden cuts more student debt but defers on bigger fixes (Links to an external site)
Jason Jabbari, assistant research professor at SPI, discusses the effect of debt forgiveness on educational institutions with Times Higher Education.
Pfizer’s FDA approval is another strike against anti-vaxxers – analysis (Links to an external site)
The Jerusalem Post shared SPI findings that 40% of Israelis who are not vaccinated did not want to because they believed that the vaccine was not safe in the short term.
Radio interview: vaccine incentives in Israel (Links to an external site)
Kan interviewed Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, on the usage of incentives to encourage vaccination. Hebrew: האם כסף יעודד את הסרבנים להתחסן?
Policy & practice: How to build long-term financial wellness
We know that liquid assets provide a safety net for short-term financial well-being, but how can we transition from short-term financial stability to longer-term financial health? Researchers, Jeremy Burke, Stephen Roll and Emily Gallagher shared their findings on the mitigation effect of liquid assets during a financial shock, the leading factors that contribute to long-term […]
Channel 13 shares parental vaccine hesitancy results (Links to an external site)
Channel 13 in Israel shared SPI research findings on why parents of 12-15-year-olds are hesitant to vaccinate their children. You can read the research results in English here.
A Fifth of Israelis Think COVID Is a Government, Pharma Conspiracy, Poll Says (Links to an external site)
Haaretz discusses a recent finding from the Social Policy Institute that shows that a fifth of Israelis believe that the vaccine is a government or pharma conspiracy.
20% of Israelis: The corona is a conspiracy of governments and pharmaceutical companies (Links to an external site)
The Marker covered our latest findings that 20% of Israelis believe that COVID-19 is a conspiracy by governments and pharmaceutical companies. These findings are the latest results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in Israel. Hebrew title: 20% מהישראלים: הקורונה היא קנוניה של ממשלות וחברות תרופות
Only half of Israelis want a third COVID-19 vaccine shot – Survey (Links to an external site)
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, was interviewed by the Jerusalem Post about research findings that only 52% of Israelis who received the original vaccine would take a third shot. This finding comes from the latest data from SPI on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 in Israel.
Inclusive and equitable tech reskilling at LaunchCode in St. Louis (Links to an external site)
Recognizing the shortcomings of equitable hiring and reskilling in the tech sector, LaunchCode, a St. Louis-based technology training organization, implemented a new model for equitable re-skilling by combining computer science training with a paid apprenticeship and by altering its recruitment and retention efforts. SPI partnered with LaunchCode to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts in […]
Internationally collaborative seed grant recipients: Where are they now?
Over the last two years, the Social Policy Institute and McDonnell International Scholars Academy at Washington University in St. Louis have partnered in sponsoring internationally collaborative research. The first projects, funded at the beginning of 2020, explored social policy globally to understand systemic challenges within and between nations. However, as with everything in 2020, the […]
Why are Israeli parents of 12-15-year-olds hesitant to vaccinate their children?
By Yaniv Shlomo, Senior Fellow; Oren Heller, Postdoctoral Research Associate; Daniel Yeshua, Program Manager; and Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Director Download a PDF to read this text in Hebrew: מדוע הורים לבני 12 עד 15 מהססים לחסן את ילדיהם? While most Israeli adults are vaccinated, 62% of parents are hesitant to vaccinate their 12-15-year-old children. The findings […]
Rewriting the social contract (Links to an external site)
Mathieu Despard, faculty director at SPI, discusses how workplaces have innovated with their benefits over the course of the pandemic.