Data analysis by Yaniv Shlomo, Senior Fellow at SPI; Hebrew article written by Daniel Yeshua, Program Manager at SPI. Read the story in Hebrew. While most Israeli adults are vaccinated, 62% of parents are hesitant to vaccinate their 12-15-year-old children. The findings from a survey administered in June by the Social Policy Institute at Washington […]
Category: News
Inclusive growth feature: Building an inclusive workforce in St. Louis
This inclusive growth feature is one of a multi-part feature on how to support inclusive growth in St. Louis by our advisory committee for the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis Event Series. In my hometown of St. Louis, inclusive growth means that everyone in our community has access to education and training to obtain well-paying […]
Celebrating the Graduate Policy Scholars 2021 Cohort
The Graduate Policy Scholars program provides students from all fields of study with impactful opportunities and training in policy. Offered by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute in partnership with the Social Policy Institute, the yearlong program provides students with opportunities to develop skills in advocacy, analysis and/or organizing. During the program, students receive guidance and mentorship […]
Inclusive Growth Feature: Impacting policy through collaboration
Jackie Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Consumers Council of Missouri, sat down with the Social Policy Institute to discuss her career in advocating for equity and inclusive growth. Throughout her career she’s found her greatest impact through policy action and collaboration. This inclusive growth feature is one of a multi-part feature on how to support […]
The debate that divides parents and experts – should children be vaccinated against corona? (Links to an external site)
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, was interviewed on television by N12 about children’s vaccination rates. Recent research from the Socioeconomic Impact of the COVID-19 Survey based in Israel found that even though 90% of respondents were vaccinated, only 40% of them expressed the desire to vaccinate their children.
Israel’s next president has long-standing relationship with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University
With Isaac Herzog set to become Israel’s 11th president later this summer, the Social Policy Institute (SPI) reflects on its long-standing partnership with the future president. SPI director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, began working with President-elect Herzog in 2010 to generate national support to create the first universal child development account program (CDA) in the world. Grinstein-Weiss, […]
Inclusive Growth Feature: Intersection of health, wealth and inclusive growth
How can we build inclusive and healthy communities in St. Louis? Kristy Klein Davis, Chief Strategy Officer of the Missouri Foundation for Health, sat down with the Social Policy Institute to discuss the intersection of health and inclusive growth. This inclusive growth feature is one of a multi-part feature on how to support inclusive growth […]
Researchers keep international COVID-19 projects moving forward (Links to an external site)
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Michal Grintsein-Weiss, director of the Social Policy Institute, discusses SPI’s continued valuable international research partnerships throughout the pandemic.
Student debt forgiveness would impact nearly every aspect of people’s lives (Links to an external site)
With recent calls for student loan debt forgiveness by political leaders, SPI researchers investigated how debt relief could impact household spending and behaviors. Brooking Institute published recent findings on the implications for debt forgiveness on household economic stability and mobility.
Tech Companies Want Schools to Use COVID Relief Money on Surveillance Tools (Links to an external site)
Surveillance tools are being marketed as tools to enforce COVID-19 restrictions including mask wearing, social distancing, and contact tracing. However, VICE cites research from SPI data analyst Jason Jabbari & faculty affiliate Odis Johnson to recognize that it can do far more harm than good.
SPI researchers win awards for paper at ACCI Conference & VentureCafe STL Fellowship
Stephen Roll and Mathieu Despard, researchers at SPI, recently received the CFP© Board’s ACCI Financial Planning Paper Award for their paper on income loss and financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is given to a well-written paper that focuses on important financial planning issues which can be used by consumers, financial planning professionals, and policymakers […]
Data and the social sector: We are all “data people”
Most of us who have worked in the social sector have interacted with data in some facet of our jobs. Whether applying for grants, evaluating programs, tracking client outcomes, drafting annual reports, or designing dashboards, our effectiveness hinges in part on how well we use data. I still recall in my past work being taken […]
Inclusive Growth Feature: Why the intersection of social work and banking is crucial to inclusive growth
by Sheri Flanigan- Vazquez, Chief Operating Officer of Justine PETERSEN and advisor of Inclusive Growth in St. Louis event series. I am educated as a Master of Social Work, but perhaps assume the role of a banker by profession. Are they mutually exclusive? Does this pose an inherent paradox? And if so, why I am […]
Inequalities in housing hardship declined because everybody is now worse off (Links to an external site)
Over recent months, SPI researchers found that the disproportionate experiences of housing hardship have lessened, but only because everyone became worse off. They also have observe that Black families have become “long-haulers” when it comes to their experience of housing hardship.
How do Americans say they will use direct cash transfers? The answer depends on the frequency and the amount of the payment
From discussions of universal basic income in the 2020 presidential debates to repeated stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, government cash transfers have received a lot of attention recently. When considering a cash transfer program, policymakers usually have an objective in mind, such as reducing economic inequality, improving households’ ability to meet basic needs, or […]
Building an effective employee financial wellness program [5 Key Insights]
Anyone who does a “happy dance” on payday knows how much employers affect our financial lives. Most of us depend on employment to make ends meet and pursue our long-term goals. That’s why through the Workforce Financial Stability Initiative, we’ve been studying employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) since 2017. Our motivation was simple: with growing […]
Covid-19: Israel drops the mask, but the damage remains deeper (Links to an external site)
As Israeli students return to schools and Israel drops its national mask mandate, Ouest France reflects on how the first country in the world is starting to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘High-Surveillance’ Schools Lead to More Suspensions, Lower Achievement (Links to an external site)
New research from Jason Jabbari, SPI data analyst, finds schools that tighten security and surveillance in response to shootings or other acts of violence may worsen long-term academic progress, particularly for Black students.
Israel’s Schools Return to Normal on Sunday (Links to an external site)
Hamodia covers students return in-person to schools in Israel starting April 19th. They share recent findings that 1 in 5 children suffer from symptoms of anxiety from Michal Grinstein-Weiss as well as partners IDC Herzliya and Hebrew University.
After about 13 months of part-time studies, the education system will fully open tomorrow (Links to an external site)
Haaretz discusses findings by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, as well as IDC Herzliya, and Rami Benvenisti of Hebrew University that one in five Israeli children currently show signs of anxiety as schools resume to full in-person learning.
Coronavirus: To vaccinate or not vaccinate children? (Links to an external site)
The Jerusalem post covered SPI research findings that less than half of vaccinated parents will also vaccinate their children. Israel is likely to be the first country to grapple with the ethics of whether vaccinating children to achieve herd immunity is worth the risk.
Research: One in five students in Israel suffers from anxiety symptoms due to COVID-19 (Links to an external site)
Haaretz covered SPI research discovery that the mental distress of the children in Israel increases the lower the parental income. When considering ethnic and religious groups, the lowest anxiety rates were recorded among the ultra-Orthodox.
Study: 1 in 5 Israeli kids have clinical anxiety symptoms amid a pandemic (Links to an external site)
SPI survey finds ultra-Orthodox children mostly unaffected and that a majority of kids had difficulties with online classes.
COVID-19 pandemic caused ‘mental crisis’ among Israeli youth (Links to an external site)
The Jerusalem Post discusses SPI research finding that Israeli children are experiencing a “mental crisis.” The report, based on a study conducted by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, and Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya together with Prof. Rami Benvenisti of Hebrew University, showed that one in five children – 21% and three times more than before the coronavirus crisis – are suffering from symptoms of anxiety.
Cameras Are Being Used To Punish Students, Not Stop School Shooters (Links to an external site)
Forbes recently described a study by Jason Jabbari, SPI researcher, and Odis Johnson, SPI faculty affiliate. The study found increase security meant to protect students has led to high suspensions schools with decrease math achievement and college admission.
Inclusive Growth Feature: Jorge Riopedre on Why Inclusive Growth Matters
Author: Jorge Riopedre, executive director of Delmar Divine and advisor of Inclusive Growth in St. Louis event series. St. Louis has historically been segregated, with people of color living in areas that were purposely removed from economic opportunities. In my work at Delmar Divine, I can see firsthand why inclusive growth matters. The disregard for […]
SPI & McDonnell Academy award new round of seed grants to address Covid-19-related challenges
For a second year, the Social Policy Institute and the McDonnell International Scholars Academy at Washington University in St. Louis partnered to provide joint seed grants to advance international policy-relevant research. Three new projects were selected to receive seed funding of up to $30,000 each. The recipients include researchers from both Washington University and McDonnell […]
The Complete Financial Lives of Workers: A Holistic Exploration of Work and Public and Workplace Benefit Arrangements (Links to an external site)
What does a complete look at the financial lives of workers reveal? A new report from Aspen Consumer Insights Collaborative via Aspen Financial Security Program illustrates how work arrangements and benefits together determine if workers will have a reasonable shot at financial security. Learn how SPI’s research helped develop key insights in the report.
Employer-Sponsored Financial Planning: A Study of the Brightside Platform
In this report we explore employee usage trends of Brightside, an employee financial health platform that is designed to improve the financial health of working families. Using this platform, employees can open “cases” to address a financial need or goal they have. Brightside connects these employees with financial assistants who, in turn, connect the employees […]
‘Like paying for a luxury car’: Childcare costs in Miami are holding families back (Links to an external site)
Even before the pandemic, South Florida working families struggled to find safe, affordable and convenient childcare. As seen through SPI’s data in the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 survey, the situation has worsened. While South Florida is vaccinating and emerging from restrictions, childcare remains a significant obstacle to upward mobility.
Grinstein-Weiss addresses U.N. session on status of women (Links to an external site)
Michal Grinstein-Weiss spoke at an event at the civil society forum for the UN session on the Commission on the Status of Women. Learn more from The Record and view the event.
Israel’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout Is Slowing at a Critical Moment. That’s a Warning for the Rest of Us (Links to an external site)
What does vaccine hesitancy in Israel mean for the United States? Michal Grinstein-Weiss was interviewed by The Times on SPI’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 survey and how vaccine hesitancy in minority populations in Israel reflect many of the same characteristics of minority groups in the United States.
Comparing pandemic spending patterns in U.S. and Israel (Links to an external site)
The Source: A study from SPI finds Israel early on offered better social policies and income support to its struggling households than the United States.
Israelis Flocked to Get the COVID Vaccine, but Will They Vaccinate Their Children Too? (Links to an external site)
Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca are in advanced stages of trials for under-16s, and Israel’s coronavirus vaccination drive is set to expand. But recent SPI data indicates that parents may be less willing to get their children inoculated.
Women can’t be stopped: Applying resiliency of pandemic struggles to acquire new, high-quality job opportunities
International Women’s Day marks one year since the COVID-19 crisis began. Over the past year, the pandemic drastically cut women from the workforce in the United States and beyond. However, despite all of this, there is a chance for a new opportunity. Women around the world have an opportunity now to apply their resiliency to acquire new skills and re-enter the workforce in industries where they have been historically under-represented.
Improving Access and Minimizing Obstacles for Medicaid Buy-In Participation
Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) has received public and policymaker attention in recent years as an option for states to expand access to healthcare. “Eligibility can be so confusing and complicated it presents an obstacle for providers and government alike to communicate clearly, never mind promote Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities.” Kimberly Lackey, Director of […]
Childhood in the time of COVID (Links to an external site)
Save the Children shared results from the Social Policy Institute’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey were shared in a report on childhood hardship in the United States during the pandemic. Their report found that millions more children are going hungry, missing out on learning & falling into poverty.
Fear of safety and mistrust cause vaccine hesitancy in Israel
SPI asked respondents about their inclination to get a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as their perspectives toward the vaccine and pandemic overall. The results indicate certain religious groups are more hesitant to receive the vaccine than others, though the reasoning differs.
Does one size fit all? Exploring provider behavior interventions and best practices alignment to improve healthcare for all
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the United States to reassess public health as we know it. In a time where providers were forced to wear trash bags as personal protective gear and alarming ICU rates across the nation, it is clear we are witnessing a shift in the future of healthcare services. But to what […]
Food assistance (SNAP) recipients were disproportionately forced out by landlords during the pandemic
Previous analysis of the Social Policy Institute’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey found that Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) recipients were evicted at higher rates than households not getting TANF, and new analysis finds similar trends for households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds.
Cash assistance (TANF) recipients suffer the brunt of evictions despite the moratorium
New evidence from the Social Policy Institute’s multi-wave Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey shows that during the pandemic, TANF recipients were evicted at significantly higher rates than non-recipients, even when accounting for differences in demographics, income, assets, recent job loss, and how many months behind they are in rental payments.
COVID-19 School Meal Policies as Long-term Strategies to Fight Child Food Insecurity
In response to COVID-19 and the nationwide school closures that followed, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through these policies, the USDA was able to grant meal waivers to help schools and community organizations provide meals and snacks during COVID-related […]
The Babies in the River: Creating Equitable Safety Nets and Springboards to Opportunity
by Nisha G. Patel, Senior Fellow, SPI Some 25 years ago, I was a bright-eyed, young, graduate student at the Brown School and I learned the parable of the babies in the river. The townspeople in a village noticed that babies were beginning to appear in a river and were in danger of getting swept away by the current. Some people immediately jumped into the river, scooping up the babies to save them from drowning. […]
The first city in the world to have all its population vaccinated against corona (Links to an external site)
Interview with SPI director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss in Hebrew based on the Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Survey in Israel. A return to almost-normalcy relies on the vast majority of Israelis over age 50 getting vaccinated for COVID-19, but it isn’t happening. New studies explain who isn’t getting the shot, and why.
There are three groups of Israelis who fear the vaccine. How can we change the image? (Links to an external site)
Interview with SPI director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss in Hebrew based on the Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Survey in Israel. A return to almost-normalcy relies on the vast majority of Israelis over age 50 getting vaccinated for COVID-19, but it isn’t happening. New studies explain who isn’t getting the shot, and why.
Hundreds of Thousands of Israelis Have Said No to the COVID-19 Vaccine: Why Are They Waiting? (Links to an external site)
Interview with SPI director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss based on the Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Survey in Israel. A return to almost-normalcy relies on the vast majority of Israelis over age 50 getting vaccinated for COVID-19, but it isn’t happening. New studies explain who isn’t getting the shot, and why
Channel Kan 11 interviews Michal Grinstein-Weiss about the vaccine in Israel (Links to an external site)
SPI director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, was interviewed by Kan 11 about findings from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel related to the vaccine.
Fee payments to access COVID-19 relief funds threaten household financial security and economic recovery
The U.S. Senate signaled that it has the votes to pass a new $1.9 trillion stimulus through the budget reconciliation process on February 2, 2020. This means that a new round of COVID-19 relief payments is likely. These relief payments, which propose distributing $1,400 to qualifying adults, will be the third such payment offered since […]
Making inclusive growth a reality in St. Louis (Links to an external site)
As it continues to grow and develop, how can St. Louis ensure benefits are distributed equally throughout the region? Learn about how the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis event series with Center for Inclusive Growth and the advisory committee are addressing this concern.
Call for Proposals: Identifying and addressing the challenges of COVID-19 through artificial intelligence, technology, and big data
The Social Policy Institute (SPI) and the McDonnell International Scholars Academy at Washington University in St. Louis are seeking proposals from Washington University researchers and international partners that identify and address the challenges of COVID-19 through artificial intelligence, technology, and big data. Proposals are due by Feb. 26, 2021. This is the second year the […]