Center for Social Development

Director: Michael Sherraden

Home Page: http://csd.wustl.edu Location: 46F Goldfarb Hall Email: csd@gwbmail.wustl.edu Telephone: (314) 935-7433

The Center for Social Development (CSD) is a unit of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work (GWB) at Washington University in St. Louis. The impetus for creating CSD was from Dean Shanti Khinduka, and the Center began in 1994 with Michael Sherraden as the founding director. Although relatively young as an organization, CSD has established itself as a leading academic center in social development.

Social development refers to focusing on development and building capacities of individuals, families, and communities, in contrast to a more traditional social services focus on maintenance and problem solving. CSD has a multipurpose agenda encompassing social theory, research, policy innovation, projects in the community, and teaching. CSD projects connect academic and applied interests and build bridges across public, non-profit, and private sectors. Both academic excellence and real-world involvement are emphasized. The watchwords are inquiry, innovation, and impact.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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China's rapidly aging population -- part of a worldwide trend The global demographic shift is a significant opportunity as long as it is in tandem with a policy and cultural shift, say productive aging experts Oct. 14, 2009 -- China's population of adults over 65 tops 100 million. This number is steadily growing, putting China at the forefront of a global demographic shift that includes the United States and other developed nations. "While a common tendency is to focus on the burdens an aging population will place on a country's economic and social welfare, an aging society represents an opportunity, not just a crisis," says Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D., productive aging expert and professor at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. "Expanding opportunities for productive engagement, including paid employment, formal volunteering, and mutual aid, may reduce social costs by reducing health care expenses and need for post-retirement income supports. (Video available)

Award-winning intergenerational research Morrow-Howell and McCrary win Generations United Award for evaluation of Experience Corps tutoring program July 31, 2009 -- Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D. the Ralph and Muriel Pumphrey Professor of Social Work and Stacey McCrary, project manager, both at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, are winners of the prestigious Generations United 2009 Brabazon Award for Evaluation Research. Morrow-Howell and McCrary are being honored for their work evaluating Experience Corps, an award-winning organization that trains thousands of people over 55 to tutor children in urban public schools across the country.

College Savings Initiative aims to advance college success for all families The New America Foundation and Washington University in St. Louis will examine innovative ways to create more inclusive 529 college savings plans May 21, 2009 -- The New America Foundation and Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University in St. Louis announce a new College Savings Initiative to examine and improve 529 college savings plans so more people have the opportunity to attend and complete college. "Saving money is not easy, but research shows many people can save when they have incentives and a way to do so. More low-income families may save with well-designed 529s and incentives," said Margaret Clancy, Policy Director at CSD. "We will study 529 innovations to see which ones are effective. This will inform 529 policy so that it can benefit families of all income levels."

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Faculty Experts:

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Amanda Moore McBride Assistant Professor of Social Work Amanda McBride Download Amanda Moore McBride specializes in civic engagement and civic service, which is a type of long-term, intensive volunteering. She researches inclusive definitions and measurement of civic engagement, international service and global citizenship, youth service as youth development, and the relationship ... Expertise: civic engagement, civic service, social development, asset development, qualitative field methods and analysis, international and comparative research Direct contact: (314) 935-9778 / ammcbride@wustl.edu

Michael Sherraden Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development Michael Sherraden Download Expertise: IDAs, asset-building, community and family development, productive aging, social and economic development, welfare reform Direct contact: (314) 935-6691 / sherrad@wustl.edu

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Clips

Students in urban schools get big boost from pioneering tutor program The Christian Science Monitor April 8, 2009 -- A new WUSTL social work study shows that comprehension and other critical skills improve dramatically with one-on-one help from Experience Corps' volunteers. WUSTL social work professor Nancy Morrow-Howell comments.

Social workers to teach money management CNN.com and 1 others Nov. 17, 2008 -- In the contemporary era of rampant foreclosures, credit card debt, and ever-evolving scams that prey on the economically vulnerable, few social work schools offer specialized financial training to their students, but change is under way. WUSTL social work professor Michael Sherraden devised the concept of Individual Development Accounts, which helps low-income families build assets to reach long-term goals.

Social workers boosting expertise on money woes Associated Press and 123 others Nov. 10, 2008 -- Against the backdrop of the economic meltdown, a movement is building within the ranks of America's social workers to make their profession more adept at helping clients overcome financial woes. WUSTL social work professor pioneered the concept of Individual Development Accounts, which help low-income families build assets to reach long-term goals such buying a home.

Financial literacy leads to positive change Chicago Tribune Aug. 5, 2008 -- Asset Builders CDC executive director Cecilia Salinas responds to critics of the benefits of financial literacy saying, "We have learned education does make a difference in changing behavior and establishing savings habits." "Nationally a recent report by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis noted positive changes in financial behavior resulting from participation in the IDA program and financial education classes."

Retirement Cash: Will You Have Enough? Readers Digest (NY) Sept. 7, 2007 -- There's a gap between the dream of retirement and the reality Americans face. A recent study from WUSTL School of Social Work estimates that 4 out of 10 people over age 60 will fall below the poverty line at some point in their later years. Countless more will watch their dream retirement fade as they discover that their savings barely cover their immediate needs. But the prospect of fiscal free fall has yet to alter most Americans' behavior, and baby boomers are saving a scant third of what they'll need.