Center for the Study of Social Policy is a left-of-center public policy advocacy and grantmaking organization based in Washington, D.C. oriented around welfare, child-care, and housing policy.

Background

The Center for the Study of Social Policy was co-founded by left-of center activist Tom Joe and former dean of the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago Harold Richman in 1978 as a policy center within the University of Chicago. The pair used the Center to advocate for left-of-center child, elder, and disabled welfare policies. ¹ Later in July 1982, the Center was registered as a standalone tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. ²

In its modern incarnation, the Center’s main policy agenda involves advocacy for left-of-center policies supporting welfare programs, childhood care subsidies, “LGTBTQ+” network programs, and low-income housing programs. ³

Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone

Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone (DULCE) is a child-care initiative of the Center for the Study of Social Policy, which works with partner organizations to support qualifying families during the first six months of their children’s upbringing. Partner organizations to which the Center has disbursed grants in 2020, ranging from $9,677 to $40,000, include First 5 LA in Los Angeles, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Family Services of Rhode Island Inc., the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, and Kentucky Youth Advocates. ^{4 5}

People

Judith Meltzer

Judith Meltzer is the president of the Center for the Study of Social Policy, as well as a federal court-appointed monitor of the District of Columbia and New Jersey’s child welfare system, the co-monitor for a class action lawsuit governing reform to South Carolina’s child welfare system, and a member of a Co-Neutral team assessing child welfare in New Mexico. Previously, Meltzer was a member of a Technical Assistance Committee to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services established as part of a court-ordered settlement agreement. ⁶

Christine Katz

Christine Katz is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Previously, Katz was the director of CFO Services for Drolet & Associates, a financial services and management firm catering to nonprofits. ⁷

Carol Wilson Spigner

Carol Wilson Spigner is chair of the board of the Center for the Study of Social Policy, a child welfare policy and services consultant, and an associate professor emerita at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Previously, while still active at the University of Pennsylvania, Spigner directed the university’s social policy program, and prior to that, served as associate commissioner for the Children’s Bureau in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. ⁸

1. “Our Past and Future.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/about-us/about-cssp/our-past-and-future/
2. Center for the Study of Social Policy. ProPublica. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521254948
3. “Our Past and Future.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/about-us/about-cssp/our-past-and-future/
4. Center for the Study of Social Policy. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. (Form 990), 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521254948/202142029349300519/full
5. “DULCE.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/our-work/project/dulce/
6. “Judith Meltzer.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/judith-meltzer/
7. “Christine Katz.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/christine-katz/
8. “Carol Wilson Spigner.” Center for the Study of Social Policy. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://cssp.org/team/carol-wilson-spigner-chair/