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This article examined the relationship of household financial behaviors and accesses. Using the 2015 National Financial Capability Study, the current study conducted latent class analysis of financial behaviors to identify latent classes (N = 27,564). The distribution of access was investigated among latent classes, which were regressed on the financial behaviors of financial planning and financial spending factors and other covariates using multinomial logistic regression. After controlling for other variables, the odds of being in Thinly Banked, Limited Access, and Working Families classes instead of being in Investors class decreased by 90%, 88%, and 66% for every point higher in financial planning behavior, respectively. Results suggest that desirable financial behaviors such as planning are important for consumers with the least financial access.

The Financial Capability and Asset Building (FCAB) for All Grand Challenge provides an impetus to increase financial content in social work education so that students and practitioners are prepared for practice that includes finances. This teaching note will describe the rationale for including FCAB within social work education and the fit with the profession. To provide guidance on curricular integration, the implementation of 4 course models will be described--online intensive course, stand-alone full course, an infused course, and a continuing education model. Course overviews and detailed FCAB content taught in each is described. Course content is mapped to the Council on Social Work Education's "Education Policy and Accreditation Standards" (EPAS). Educational implications about EPAS and policy suggestions are discussed.

Little is known about financial and economic content (FEC) in social work education, despite the importance of preparing students for practice with low- to moderate-income clients. Additionally, little knowledge exists about faculty perspectives on teaching FEC. This article reports on a qualitative study that examines the perspectives of social work faculty on (1) current coverage and range of FEC in social work education; (2) the degree to which they are receptive to and interested in expanding FEC in the social work curriculum; and (3) the barriers to and their recommendations for expanding FEC in social work education. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 social work faculty from programs across the United States engaged in curriculum decisions. Findings show FEC is intentionally taught in various courses, such as social welfare policy, and FEC issues also emerge in an unplanned way in class discussions. Faculty believe FEC is important and relevant for social work practice; however, barriers to including FEC--such as lack of curricular space, time related to program requirements, and lack of faculty preparation--inhibit including additional FEC content. Overall, respondents are cautious but positive about better preparing social workers with additional FEC.

This article presents findings from a national online survey of social work faculty (N = 1,039) that examines financial and economic content in the current curriculum, gaps in coverage, and strategies for improving social workers' academic preparation to work with populations living in extremely financially vulnerable circumstances. We sent the survey to all full- and part-time social work faculty listed on social work degree program websites. We find that nearly all respondents (92%) perceive financial and economic content as useful for their students. However, just more than half (54%) teach it. Faculty with some financial education, and who perceive it to be useful, are more likely to include financial content in the curriculum. Social work faculty are most likely to teach about financial-related public policies and programs, and least likely to teach about financial products and services, and financial management and practice. This article discusses implications for social work research and education, including the importance of rigorous research to understand the gap between coverage and perceived usefulness of financial and economic content. It concludes with suggestions for including more financial and economic content in the curriculum.

Purpose: This systematic review examined the effects of tax-time saving interventions that promote saving with tax refunds from relevant experimental or quasi-experimental studies of interventions aimed toward low- and moderate-income adults delivered when filing U.S. income taxes. Method: A systematic review process was used to search for published and unpublished studies from sources through September 2021. Two reviewers screened studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias, and effects on savings rate and amount were synthesized using robust variance estimation. Results: This review included 14 unique studies. Five studies reporting 13 effect sizes for savings amount found a small, statistically significant effect (d = 0.06, 95% CI [0.05, 0.08]). Nine studies reporting 35 effect sizes found no statistically significant effect for savings rate (LOR = 4.11, 95% CI [0.42, 40.44]). Discussion: Results suggest some evidence that tax-time savings can be a relatively simple method for increasing the amount low- to moderate-income adults save. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although social work education competencies include economic justice, and practice includes addressing client finances and assets, social work curricula lack an emphasis on these topics. Little is known about students' perceptions of the relevancy of this information or how well their program is preparing them for contemporary practice. This study explores the perceptions of 643 BSW and MSW students and finds a general consensus that social workers have an important role in addressing client economic issues. However, respondents perceive limited use of client financial information in practice and limited coverage of the topic in curriculum areas. Results indicate respondents' perceptions may significantly differ based on their preferred fields of practice, level, and student program status. Curricula implications are discussed.

Although social workers recently have renewed the profession's historical focus on the financial well-being of vulnerable families, they receive little professional education to prepare them for this work. This study examines the implementation and outcomes of infusing a financial capability and asset building (FCAB) curriculum in a variety of social work courses in 11 minority-serving baccalaureate colleges and universities. Analysis of in-depth interviews with 24 faculty and administrators finds that respondents believe students gained understanding and appreciation for FCAB. Faculty also reported greater confidence in teaching FCAB concepts and skills. Pre- and posttest surveys with 261 students indicate changed attitudes, confidence in helping clients with basic financial management, knowledge about financial capability, and improvement in some personal financial behaviors.

Graduating students must be prepared with knowledge and skills for the financial aspects of social work practice. This study examines graduating students' attitudes and perceptions about client finances, as well as their financial knowledge. Internet survey results (n = 116) of BSW and MSW graduating students indicate that respondents (a) perceive a limited function for discussing client financial circumstances in practice, (b) understand the relevance, however, of client finances, (c) are unprepared to address this aspect, and (d) are supportive of integrating this content into required policy and practice courses. Teaching and curricular implications, along with programmatic recommendations, are included.