The Asset Development and Financial Literacy Task Force will explore initiatives in asset development that impact the Medicaid Infrastructure Grants and participation in the Medicaid Buy-In programs.  The task force will build on emerging CWD work in this area, and examine and support initiatives in asset development which directly impact the economic well-being and security of individuals with disabilities, their families, and their communities. In particular, the task force will highlight national initiatives which states may utilize in expanding asset development, financial literacy, and tax policy programs, and state initiatives which may be replicated. The task force aims to work with other state and national organizations, including APHSA affiliates, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), National Consortium for Health Systems Development (NCHSD), National Disability Institute TAX Facts Initiative, and state and national groups who focus on the economic development of persons with disabilities.

The task force will support the development of asset development and financial literacy initiatives for persons with disabilities by:

• Developing a resource mapping template to assist state activities in asset development and financial literacy
• Providing a monthly forum for discussing current initiatives and issues in asset development and financial literacy for persons with disabilities, including topics in: tax policy, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), benefits planning, individual development accounts (IDA), asset limits in public assistance programs, and federal initiatives in asset development.
• Incorporating the expertise and perspectives of diverse stakeholders within the task force, including state and federal government representatives, persons with disabilities, national leaders in asset development, and policy planners.

Monthly Task Force Conference Calls

Schedule for Monthly Calls

Supporting Materials for Monthly Conference Calls

2006

• October/November 2006
• October Call Summary Notes

• December 2006
• December Call Summary Notes

2007

• January 2007
• Final draft of purpose and goals statement
• Call Summary Notes

• February 2007
• Guest Speakers: (1) Don Dill, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Stakeholder, Partnership, Education, and Communication (SPEC) division, and (2) Dr. Johnette Hartnett, Director of Research, National Disability Institute
• Benefits Interaction Chart
• SPEC Disability Initiative Overview
• Tax Credits and Benefits for People with Disabilities
• REIT 2007

• March 2007
• Guest Speaker: Dr. Johnette Hartnett, Director of Research, National Disability Institute
• REIT Tour New Model Strategies
• REIT Fact Sheet
• REIT Map
• Benefits Interaction Chart
• Taxpayer Advocates and IRS Report to Congress (link to attached document March 2007, 2006 TAS report to Congress)
• Call summary notes

• April 2007
• State resource mapping and environmental scan, task force discussion

• May 2007
• “Asset Policies in the States,”- Guest Speaker : Karen Edwards , Center for Social Development, George Warren School of Social Work
• State Policy Trends for Individual Development Accounts in the United States:  1993 – 2003
• Building Financial Bridges to Economic Development and Community Integration:  Recommendations for a Research Agenda on Asset Development for People with Disabilities

• June 2007
• Guest Speaker : Patti Lind , Abilities Fund
• PowerPoint Presentation “Resources for Self-Employment Services for Individuals with Disabilities”
• Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
• Informed Choices – Overview
• Microenterprise Overview
• Online Tools

• July 2007
• Guest Speaker : Lisa Reyes Mason, Center for Social Development, Washington University
• PowerPoint Presentation: SEED Policy and Research
• SEED for Oklahoma Kids: Summary of Project, Research, and Policy Implications, May 2007
• SEED Research Report Account Monitoring: SEED Participant Characteristics and Financial Accumulation, March 2007

• August 2007
• Guest Speaker : Heidi Goldberg, National League of Cities

• September 2007
• Funding Guide, Task Force Discussion

• October 2007
• Guest Speaker : Thomas Foley, World Institute on Disability

• November 2007
• Guest Speaker : Tobey Partch-Davies, Center for Economic Development and Disability

• December 2007
• Guest Speaker : Christopher Button, Department of Labor, Office on Disability Employment Policy