Research has shown that Child Development Accounts not only help families accumulate savings, but also provide a boost to parenting in terms of educational expectations, the socio-emotional development of their children—and a sense of hope. The St. Louis Regional Child Development Account Collaborative is working to establish a state-wide program that would cover all children born in Missouri.
Under the program, each child born in the state would automatically receive $500 in a Missouri MOST 529 Savings Plan account. A leadership committee made up of partners from the Archdiocese of St. Louis – Peace and Justice Commission, Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis, College Kids, Commerce Bank, Forward Through Ferguson, Health Equity Works, Missouri MOST 529 Savings Plan, and St. Louis Community Foundation continues working to establish a statewide coalition to achieve this goal.