The Office of Financial Empowerment within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently released a white paper titled "Financial Empowerment Training for Social Service Programs: A Scan of Community-Based Initiatives." The paper presents the results of a field scan conducted by the CFPB to learn more about the tools and information social service providers across the country need to help their clients increase their financial capabilities. This information was fundamental to the design and development of "Your Money, Your Goals," the financial empowerment toolkit developed by CFPB and scheduled to be released in 2014.

The Social Science Research Network released a paper discussing financial literacy, education, and downstream financial behaviors. A meta-analysis of the relationship of financial literacy and of financial education to financial behaviors was conducted in order to understand the increasing complexity of the financial decisions of individuals over the last generation. The paper discusses the importance of financial education and literacy, as well as suggestions to implement financial education programs. Financial literacy and education are extremely critical to improving the economic self-sufficiency of workers, and therefore, should be reinforced throughout an individual's life.

This recently released research study from the Urban Institute identifies promising approaches that could be implemented within the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Center for Economic Opportunity program to assist the most vulnerable families, of which families escaping domestic violence are included. The research indicates that programs can improve a vulnerable family's employability and savings; however, the most successful interventions are "high touch," longer in length than standard programs, and therefore, more expensive. Also highlighted is the importance of creating partnerships with healthcare providers, as this is often a significant barrier to stability for these families that remains unaddressed.

The Federal government has recently placed a greater emphasis on connecting survivors with asset building programs as a way to build financial independence for the population. With this goal in mind, this toolkit was designed as a step by step guide for both AFI programs and domestic violence service providers interested in creating partnerships. It provides information targeted specifically at each partners, as well as additional resources such as draft MOUs and letters of commitments.

Brookings Center on Children and Families and Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity held an event on December 5, 2012 to examine the impact of the election on programs affecting the poor like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as the Earned Tax Credit (EITC). Answers to this and related questions were discussed by a panel of experts.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report discussing the benefits of strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for childless workers in order to promote work and reduce poverty. The report addresses how strengthening the credit could bring about social and economic benefits through an increase in labor participation, marriage rates, and a decrease in incarceration rates. In addition to this, examples on how to strengthen the EITC for childless workers are also discussed.

This report displays and discusses some of the data related to the poverty of children and their living arrangements and data on male employment and earnings, educational attainment, and incarceration. It then provides information on federal programs that could play a greater role in addressing poverty of children through the fathers of these children (nearly all noncustodial parents are fathers). These programs provide economic assistance, family support, and job training and employment to eligible participants. The report also examines federal programs that have the purposes of preventing teen pregnancy and helping disadvantaged youth obtain the skills and support they need to make the transition to adulthood. The underlying premise of these programs generally is that the aid or services received from these programs by low-income noncustodial fathers can help them in meeting their financial commitments to their children (or future children) and providing emotional support to their children. The report concludes by presenting several public policy approaches proposed by the policy community that might improve the lives of low-income noncustodial fathers and their children. For example, social policy could play a role by expanding economic assistance programs to noncustodial fathers, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and implementing strategies to prevent the build-up of unpaid child support through early intervention. (author abstract)

The Center for Poverty Research faculty at the University of California Davis released a new study that examines the 1993 EITC expansion to measure the effect extra income had on rates of low birth weight. The study found that while the EITC is not a health program, it does have a clear impact on newborns.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the single most important social insurance programs in place in the U.S. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the insurance and incentive effects of the EITC on a central class of recipients: single mothers. To the authors of the paper, it is to their knowledge, the first attempt to analyze the EITC in a life-cycle decision problem with risky wages, risky family-composition, and limited self-insurance. The results indicate that the EITC provides substantial insurance to young single mothers and does not significantly distort labor supply decisions.

This Webinar from the National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families discussed why financial management is a critical healthy marriage and relationship skill. It explored useful tools and resources to help clients build assets and increase financial literacy, and discussed ways to help clients use these tools to increase self-sufficiency and strengthen relationships. Examples of helpful integration strategies for safety-net service providers were provided. This Webinar also provided an overview of new resources and products available from the National Resource Center.