Institute for Research on Poverty – PHENND

Webinar: Shaping the Future of Health Care Coverage: Policy Lessons from Romneycare and Medicaid Expansions – Jul 22

hillarya — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:56:30 +0000

What can the United States learn about creating effective health insurance markets by examining state-level health care reforms and policy?

This webinar will focus on the evolution of health insurance coverage and explore critical research on health care access, state reforms, and public health outcomes. Our session will open with an essential overview of the current health insurance landscape in the U.S., and the role Medicaid plays in it. We will then hear key takeaways from Massachusetts’ “Romneycare” health reforms 20 years later, highlighting lessons that can inform today’s ACA marketplace. Next, we will hear findings on the direct impact of state Medicaid expansions on mortality and public health. The webinar will close out with key takeaways from the research and opening the floor for a Q&A with the audience.

This session will provide data-driven insights into the possibilities for state and federal health insurance policy—and where it may be headed next.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM

Webinar: Navigating Fintech: Inclusion, Innovation, And ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ – Jun 2

hillarya — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:43:07 +0000

Access to traditional financial institutions remains challenging for low- to moderate-income individuals. Barriers include minimum balance requirements, excessive fees, and credit checks. Financial technologies, or fintech, have emerged as a potential path to broaden financial inclusion and reshape how families participate in financial systems.

This Institute For Research on Poverty webinar convenes three leading experts to examine how fintech options operate for financially vulnerable populations.

Date and Time: June 24, 2026, 2:00 PM

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Webinar Recording: The Cost-of-Living Crisis: Data-Driven Insights into Housing, Energy, and Essential Spending

hillarya — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:52:28 +0000

Economic uncertainty defines the current era for many U.S. households as they struggle with affordability and the challenge of stretching their budgets. The gap between rising costs and household resilience is especially large for families with lower incomes, as they face cost pressures relative to their income nearly three times greater than those of high-income earners. Understanding these disparities is an essential requirement for ensuring social equity and national stability.

This webinar brings together three expert perspectives to dissect the widening “affordability gap” through the lenses of consumer spending, housing policy, and energy costs. We will explore research that reveals how the expiration of pandemic-era supports and inflation has forced households with more limited economic resources to trade down on essentials while higher-income groups remain insulated. The discussion will also address the structural crisis in American housing, asking how we can realistically expand access to affordable homes. And finally, we will examine energy insecurity and the impacts of rising costs of utilities and transportation, highlighting how public perception and market shifts impact the distribution of modern infrastructure and affordability. Webinar participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of why the cost-of-living crisis is experienced so differently across the United States and what kinds of systemic steps are necessary to bridge the divide.

Listen to the webinar recording.

Webinar: From Service To Stability: Navigating Financial Well-Being, Food Security, And The Civilian Workforce – Jan 21

hillarya — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:39:49 +0000

Approximately 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life each year in the U.S. This shift is a complex journey and success hinges on more than just securing a new job. Recent research highlights interconnected challenges requiring more holistic considerations of financial stressors, household food security, and integration into the civilian workforce.

This webinar hosted by the Institute for Research on Poverty and the University of Wisconsin-Madison explores systemic factors driving these challenges and offers evidence-based strategies to improve veteran employment and career integration.

Date and Time: January 21, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM

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Webinar: Engaging and Serving Young Fathers – Nov 19

hillarya — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:25:36 +0000

Young fathers face unique challenges and distinct barriers to participation in child and family services. A webinar hosted by the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will explore the experiences and needs of young fathers, including those who are parenting with a partner and those who are parenting as a single father.

The event will explore practice and policy approaches to strengthen engagement of young fathers and support them with knowledge and skills to help their families thrive.

The webinar will take place November 19, 2025, 1:00-2:00 PM.

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Webinar: Understanding the Cost of Housing Quality on Families and Communities – Sep 30

hillarya — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:15:54 +0000

Discussion of the housing crisis in the U.S. typically focuses on the issue of supply and demand and the lack of access to affordable homes. However, housing quality, or the physical conditions and environmental surroundings of a dwelling, is an important part of the conversation that has significant impact on the health, stability, and financial well-being of people, especially in historically marginalized communities.

In this webinar hosted by the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, panelists will explore how improvements in housing quality over the last several decades may not have kept pace with rising costs for low-income households, how past discriminatory policies like redlining continue to shape the physical condition of homes and neighborhoods today, and the lived experiences and behavioral aspects of housing, such as the tenants dealing with disrepair and neglect of rental properties.

The event will take place September 30 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.

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Webinar: Navigating Disability Benefits: New Research on Administrative Burden and Work Incentives – Aug 27

hillarya — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:12:31 +0000

Programs like SSI and SSDI help millions of U.S. residents through monthly support that is especially critical for low-income and aging people with a disability. Research shows that current and prospective beneficiaries may struggle to navigate the application process and eligibility requirements.

In this webinar, sponsored by the Institute for Research on Poverty, panelists will present and discuss research on administrative burden in accessing SSA program benefits as well as participation and barriers to employment.

Date and Time: August 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

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Webinar: Supporting Engaged Fatherhood And Family Well-Being: The Role Of Policy From The Community Level To The Federal Level – Nov 29

hillarya — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:25:46 +0000

Policy decisions made at the federal, state, and local levels directly affect the well-being of fathers, their children and families. Policies may support the engagement of fathers with their children or make it more difficult for fathers to be the parents, partners, and providers they want to be. In this webinar, we will highlight research addressing fathers’ circumstances and the challenges they face, and discuss implications for policymaking across levels of government. Panelists will offer their perspectives on, and share their experience with, the development of public policy to support engaged fatherhood and help families thrive.

This event will take place on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 1:00-2:00 PM.

Click here to register.

Webinar: Early Impacts Of The Expanded Child Tax Credit – Oct 13

hillarya — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:12:50 +0000

Join the Institute for Research on Poverty for a webinar exploring the early effects of the temporary expanded monthly Child Tax Credit. Presenters including Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Zachary Parolin, Samuel Hammond, and Timothy Smeeding will discuss how the first months of the credit have impacted poverty rates, food security, and the broader U.S. economy.

This event will take place on Wednesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Learn more and register.