Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
In recognition of the growing momentum and interest from U.S-based policymakers in designing public benefits that boost household cash flow and provide U.S. families with the foundational stability from which they can thrive and progress toward longer term financial security, this paper provides policymakers with a new tool: a Person-Centered Policy Design and Evaluation framework, based on the lived experience and expertise of the people these policies are intended to support.
This framework is the product of an ongoing partnership between Springboard To Opportunities (“Springboard”), a non-profit organization in Jackson, MS and Aspen FSP to “center the margins” in policy design and evaluation, taking a people-centric approach to institutionalize the voice and influence of impacted communities at every step of the policymaking process.
In April 2021, Springboard kicked off its third year providing $1,000 per month to women participating in the Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT), the longest running guaranteed income program in the United States and the only initiative specifically targeting Black women with extremely low incomes living in affordable housing. This framework distills information from interviews and focus groups with dozens of women served by Springboard from 2016 to the present with direct knowledge of and experience with programs to boost household cash flow and merges these unique insights with research providing further context and directions for responsive reforms.
Finally, the paper applies this framework to three policies specifically designed to boost the household incomes of families with children – the expanded Child Tax Credit, the original Child Tax Credit, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – to see how well each meets performance goals of a person-centered approach to such policies.
States working with the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program put forward a shared set of “North Stars” that define good public benefits delivery. Amid challenges to our benefits system, these North Stars are more important than ever.
Shared language is a key starting point for organizations looking to adopt person-centered practices. This resource offers a set of common terms to guide how we talk person-centered work.
This resource outlines four phases of person-centered work, illuminating key features of each phase. Designed to be used by a wide range of leaders, this tool can support internal assessment, knowledge building, and strategic planning.
Benefits screeners are a popular tool for increasing benefits access. This report offers a framework for benefits leaders to understand the role screeners play and assess their effectiveness.
Young adults today are coming of age in a volatile economic and political environment. We spoke with 12 young people about how they are navigating the transition to adulthood and what it means for public trust more broadly.
Young adults are grappling with sweeping changes to the U.S. benefits system under OBBBA. This paper illustrates these impacts and offers recommendations that can help young adults.
Since 2021, Aspen FSP and our Community Advisory Group have worked to forefront lived experience of financial insecurity across our research and convenings. Learn how in this reflection by Riani Carr.
Mike Wilkening’s work as a public servant has followed a simple philosophy: government in service of its people. In this blog, he shares more about his leadership approach and his position as an Aspen FSP Fellow.
Most households experience at least one financial shock in a given year, but there are few comprehensive solutions to help them. How can we solve this persistent challenge?
