Session: Democratizing and Decolonizing Social Work Policy, Practice, and Research: The Implications of Four Community-Based Guaranteed Income Pilots (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)

The first study, the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), provides evidence suggesting that guaranteed income can reduce income volatility and promote financial security while also positively affecting mental health and overall well-being. The HudsonUP pilot study also demonstrates the potential of guaranteed income programs to alleviate financial stress and improve relationships, providing hope and stability to low-income individuals.

The third study, the Youth Cash Transfer (YCT) program, examines the impact of guaranteed income on the financial literacy and future orientation of high school students. This study highlights how guaranteed income can improve financial capability and freedom, democratize knowledge on financial literacy and capability among youth, and promote financial socialization. Finally, the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) study examines the impact of guaranteed income on people experiencing homelessness. The study demonstrates how guaranteed income can recenter recipient agency and control over their own lives.

Overall, these papers offer a diverse array of study populations, settings, and research methods while collectively challenging traditional assumptions about poverty and the promotion of financial security, well-being, and agency among marginalized populations. As such, guaranteed income experiments have significant implications for social work policy, practice, and research, particularly as we seek to advance racial equity and social justice within our communities of practice.

The authors will discuss the need for continued research on the impact of guaranteed income on social work science in the next 30 years, emphasizing the importance of centering community voices and experiences in this work. Furthermore, the panel will explore the potential for guaranteed income experiments to be implemented at scale and the challenges that must be addressed to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.

Guaranteed income experiments hold great promise for advancing social work science and promoting the well-being of marginalized populations. By prioritizing community-centered research and centering the voices and experiences of those most impacted by social inequality, we can continue to advance racial equity and social justice in our work.