Center For Law And Social Policy

CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP) IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN, ANTI-POVERTY NONPROFIT ADVANCING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES. WE DEVELOP PRACTICAL YET VISIONARY STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING POVERTY, PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL AND RACIAL BARRIERS FACED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. WITH OVER 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, WE'RE ADVANCING A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE ROOTED IN ECONOMIC SECURITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.

WORKFORCE TRAINING AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION::- HELPED TO SECURE THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL PAID LEAVE PROGRAM FORPRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS.- CONDUCTED POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY TO EXPAND ACCESS TOPOSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, ADULT EDUCATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTOPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WITH LOW INCOMES.- PUBLISHED INFLUENTIAL PAPERS AND ANALYSES IDENTIFYING RACIALDISPARITIES IN JOB QUALITY AND ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ANALYZINGREASONS, AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS.- PUBLISHED A SERIES OF FACTSHEETS AND BRIEFS ON HOW PAID SICK DAYS,PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AND FAIR SCHEDULING PRACTICES IMPACT THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC SECURITY OF WORKERS WITH LOW-WAGES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND GENERATED A SERIES OF INFLUENTIAL PAPERS AND COMMENTARIES ON HOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IMPACTED WORKERS IN LOW PAID JOBS.- PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS PRESS CALLS AND PUBLIC RADIO SHOW TOHIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR NATIONAL, COMPREHENSIVE, AND INCLUSIVE PAID SICKDAYS AND PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAMS IN LIGHT OF THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND HOSTED CALLS AND WEBINARS WITH PARTNERS TOEXPLAIN PROVISIONS OF EMERGENCY PAID SICK DAYS AND PAID FAMILY ANDMEDICAL LEAVE TO STATE AGENCIES, WORKERS, AND ADVOCATES.- WORKED CLOSELY WITH ADVOCATES AND AGENCY STAFF TO HELP IMPLEMENT NEWOR STRENGTHEN EXISTING PAID SICK DAYS LAWS AND OTHER LABOR STANDARDS INSTATES.- AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, CLASP TESTIFIED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS BEFORE THEHOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL PAID SICKDAY'S LAW, THE HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT. WE ALSO PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONSTO THE BIDEN-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM ON HOW TO SECURE ANDIMPLEMENT PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.- HOSTED A WEBINAR ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT CANCELLATION, WHICH FEATUREDNATIONAL RENOWNED ECONOMISTS, A SENATE STAFFER, AND ADVOCATES. THEWEBINAR EXAMINED HOW STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION CAN ACT AS A PATHWAY FORHOUSEHOLD RELIEF, ECONOMIC STIMULUS, AND RACIAL JUSTICE.- WORKED TO PROMOTE POLICIES AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS THATSUPPORT AFFORDABILITY, EXPANSION, ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS WITH LOWINCOMES, NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS, IMMIGRANTS, STUDENTS OF COLOR, ADULTLEARNERS, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, AND JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS.- POLICIES WE ADVOCATED FOR INCLUDED THE EXPANSION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS'ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SELECTEDSTATES; SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT THAT SUPPORT AN EQUITABLE ECONOMICRECOVERY FOR WORKERS; AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BIDEN-HARRISPRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM ON HOW TO SECURE GOOD JOBS FOR WORKINGFAMILIES AND ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH LOWINCOMES.

POVERTY AND INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS:- CONTINUED TO CO-LEAD THE PROTECTING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES (PIF) CAMPAIGN.- DISSEMINATED COMMUNITY EDUCATION MATERIALS ON PUBLIC CHARGE ANDSUPPORTED PARTNERS IN THEIR WORK; WHILE WORKING TO MAKE THE CASE FORNEW ADMINISTRATION TO OVERTURN PUBLIC CHARGE RULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.- ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, AUTHORED PAPERS ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OFADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY FOR BENEFIT ACCESS (IE, POLICIES TO ENSUREFAMILIES GET HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND INCOME SUPPORT BENEFITS THEY AREELIGIBLE FOR).- STRENGTHENED OUR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REGARDING RACIAL EQUITY ANDRACISM IN PUBLIC BENEFITS SYSTEMS.- ADVOCATED FOR IMMIGRANT-INCLUSIVE COVID RELIEF.- DOCUMENTED THE HARM OF PUBLIC CHARGE AND SUPPORTED LITIGATION AGAINST IT.- SUPPORTED STATE POLICY IMPROVEMENTS.- HELPED ADVOCATES UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS UNDER COVID RELIEF PACKAGESAND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR STATES TO USE THEM EFFECTIVELY.- WORKED WITH A HANDFUL OF STATES ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH LOWINCOMES IN ACCESSING PUBLIC BENEFITS, WHILE ADVOCATING FOR ADOPTION OFPANDEMIC-EBT IN ALL STATES AND OUTREACH TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.- WROTE PAPERS ON FIGHTING POVERTY THROUGH CROSS-PROGRAM BENEFIT ACCESSAND ON THE NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, ANDCONTRIBUTED TO OTHER PAPERS, INCLUDING ON CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANTFAMILIES AND MENTAL HEALTH.- AUTHORED PRINCIPLES FOR FEDERAL TAX POLICY PAPER.- HEALING CENTERED LIBERATION POLICY: DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITHINDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN POVERTY AND BUILT OUT COMMUNITYPARTNERSHIP GROUP STRUCTURE TO PARTNER WITH THEM.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH:- LAUNCHED AND LED A DIVERSE NETWORK OF ADVOCATES TO ADVANCE POLICIESTHAT SUPPORT CHILDREN IN MIXED-STATUS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES CALLED THECHILDREN THRIVE ACTION NETWORK (CTAN).- LAID THE GROUNDWORK THROUGH RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, POLICYMAKER EDUCATIONAND MORE TO ACHIEVE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE.- LAUNCHED OUR INNOVATIVE NEW DEAL FOR YOUTH (ND4Y) PROJECT TO WORKWITH YOUNG ADULTS, CENTERING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND EXPERTISE, IN ORDERTO ACHIEVE POLICY AND COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE.- DOCUMENTED THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POLICIES ONCHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.- ADVOCATED FOR INCLUSIVE COVID RELIEF FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.- PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITIONTEAMS ON HOW TO BEST INCLUDE CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN AGENCYPRIORITIES AND UNDO THE HARM OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLICIES.- PUBLISHED INFLUENTIAL ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ON THE DEVASTATINGIMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE CHILD CARE SECTOR AND HOW TOBUILD A STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE CHILD CARE SYSTEM; AND HOSTEDWEBINARS/CALLS TO EXPLAIN FEDERAL CHILD CARE POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OFCOVID AND INFLUENCE STATE POLICY ADAPTATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OFRELIEF FUNDS.- TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE ON THENEED FOR CHILD CARE RELIEF IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID.- PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATORS ANDADVOCATES ON RESPONDING TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AND IMPLEMENTING CHILDCARE RELIEF DOLLARS.- PUBLISHED INFLUENTIAL PAPERS AND COMMENTARIES ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OFYOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR LOW-INCOMEYOUNG ADULTS, EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS WITH THE JUSTICESYSTEM.- DEVELOPED PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOUTH-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND ENGAGED YOUNGPEOPLE IN POLICY ACTIVISM, INCLUDING HOSTING A SERIES OF WELL-ATTENDEDVIRTUAL CONVENINGS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO NEEDS OF YOUTHAND ENGAGE YOUNG ADULTS IN POLICY PROCESS.- DEMONSTRATED THE WORSENING OF ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE AND RACIALDISPARITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AS A RESULT OF COVID THROUGHCOMMENTARIES, EVENTS AND DATA ANALYSIS.- PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO BIDEN-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITIONTEAMS ON HOW TO CENTER YOUTH IN POLICYMAKING, INVEST IN YOUTHEMPLOYMENT AND DIVEST FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND INVEST INCOMMUNITIES OF COLOR.