Welcome to the UCLA CalKIDS Institute newsletter, where we share insights, updates, and stories about strengthening California’s groundbreaking Children’s Savings Account program, CalKIDS. Housed in UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies, the Institute serves as a hub for Collaboration, Innovation & Pilots, and Evaluation—in service of economic equity, higher-education access, and family financial well-being. Be sure to check out the Meet the Team section to learn about the people behind the CalKIDS Institute.
 

 

The Institute serves as a hub for Collaboration, Innovation & Pilots, and Evaluation—in service of economic equity, higher-education access, and family financial well-being. We do this through innovative programming, research and evaluation, and collaboration.

At UCLA, the CalKIDS Institute is leading efforts to increase awareness and access to California’s children’s savings account program among eligible college students and their families. Our team has actively collaborated with the UCLA Undergraduate Admission Office to table at First-Year and Transfer Student Orientations, ensuring newly enrolled students receive timely information about CalKIDS and how to claim their accounts. We have also partnered with the Academic Advancement Program (AAP) to host dedicated drop-in office hours, offering personalized support to first-generation and transfer students navigating the claiming process. Additionally, our partnership with the Bruin Resource Center has expanded our reach to students with dependents through tailored presentations and office hours, ensuring parenting students and their children can access the benefits of CalKIDS. These coordinated campus-wide efforts reflect our commitment to financial empowerment and educational equity. By embedding CalKIDS outreach into the fabric of student services, we are building a culture of early college savings awareness that supports students in accessing the resources they need to thrive. Through cross-unit collaboration, the CalKIDS Institute continues to drive innovative strategies to increase program visibility and promote long-term financial well-being for students and families across the UCLA community.

The UCLA CalKIDS Institute proudly partnered with the ScholarShare Investment Board and the California Child Savings Account CSA Coalition in the development of the groundbreaking California Early Wealth Accounts System (CEWAS) Plan. This plan was funded by The BlackRock Foundation and developed through a robust statewide collaboration led by California CSA Coalition Director Amanda Feinstein. The CEWAS Plan charts a visionary path toward building a unified early wealth-building system in California. By aligning CalKIDS, local CSA programs, and the upcoming HOPE Child Trust Account initiative—with plans to incorporate recently enacted “Trump Accounts”—this partnership aims to ensure every California child, especially those facing the greatest barriers, can access transformative financial resources to support their future. CalKIDS Institute Executive Director Nayiri Nahabedian served on the CEWAS Plan steering committee, and Faculty Director Mark Hansen was a contributing author. The plan integrates insights from families, practitioners, funders, policymakers, and researchers, and outlines key strategies across five areas: partnerships, communications, building account balances, data, and technology. Together, we are working to expand equity, increase capacity, and unlock the full potential of early wealth-building for all children in California.

The UCLA CalKIDS Institute engages in research and evaluation about the CalKIDS Program. We work with multiple partners, including the ScholarShare Investment Board, county offices of education, schools and colleges, and community organizations to better understand the experiences of CalKIDS eligible youth and their families, and to understand best practices for encouraging students to learn about, claim, and use their CalKIDS accounts.

 

The research team recently published an initial report on one strand of our research: the experiences of the first cohorts of post-secondary students who used funds from their CalKIDS accounts. In this report we highlight the perceived impact of the CalKIDS accounts on multiple parts of the post-secondary experience of students, such as continuing education and addressing short-term financial needs. We also stress the importance of finding out about CalKIDS accounts early, as we found a positive relationship between the average impact that having a CalKIDS account had on students’ decisions to continue their education with the amount of time that the students had a CalKIDS account before graduating high school. Additionally, we underscore the importance of K-12 partnerships in helping young people learn about their CalKIDS accounts, as 43% of study participants reported that they first learned about CalKIDS through their high school.
 

This research was presented at the California Early Wealth Account System (CEWAS) Summit with Catalina Cifuentes of the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE), who added onto our research by exploring ways in which RCOE has successfully helped students and families learn about and claim CalKIDS accounts.
 

Previously, the CalKIDS Institute team also supported research led by former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Aleks Czulak. This work is presented in their recent report, Advancing CalKIDS: Findings & Recommendations for the Nation’s Largest College Savings Account Program. Ongoing and future research of the UCLA CalKIDS Institute includes a case study of a county with some of the highest rates of CalKIDS accounts claimed in the state of California, to understand best practices for schools to help students claim their accounts. We also are engaging in a scoping literature review of work done on child savings accounts.
 

On August 14, the ScholarShare Investment Board hosted a YouTube event celebrating Three Years of CalKIDS.  California marked a powerful milestone with a statewide virtual celebration of CalKIDS’ third anniversary—honoring the state’s commitment to early wealth-building and college-and-career opportunity for every child. The program featured a heartfelt fireside chat between Emmy Award–winning actress and advocate America Ferrera and radio personality Liz Hernandez, who spoke about the power of dreams, higher education, and how CalKIDS opens doors for California families.

 

Cassandra DiBenedetto, Executive Director of the  ScholarShare Investment Board, underscored CalKIDS as a California-led model for equity and access—administered by the State Treasurer’s Office and now the nation’s largest child development account initiative.

 

The conversation brimmed with passionate insights and personal anecdotes, underscoring the importance of investing in children’s futures and demystifying the path to college for families in California.

 

​​This milestone celebration not only honored three years of commitment to accessible education but also fueled our collective vision for future advocacy. If you're inspired by what CalKIDS is achieving, we invite you to carry that energy forward—join us in championing policies and actions that empower students statewide.
 

As we celebrate this statewide achievement, let’s turn inspiration into action: help families check eligibility, claim their CalKIDS accounts, and champion policy and partnerships that expand awareness across California’s schools and communities.
 

Together, we can grow the next three years—and beyond—into even greater impact.

 

UCLA CalKIDS Institute and LACOE’s Ed Buzz Episode 25 delivers an in-depth exploration of statewide early-wealth strategy, led by CalKIDS. This episode features host and moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Graswich, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communication for Los Angeles County Office of Education. Dr. Graswich welcomed Dr. Mahagoney Borrayo-Gilchriest of UCLA and Dr. Anna Heinbuch of LACOE, exploring the development of California’s comprehensive CalKIDS blueprint—detailing how turnkey lesson plans and multilingual outreach toolkits, and districtwide CalKIDS Champion trainings are being crafted to embed college-savings modules into every grade.

 

Listeners learn about proven implementation examples, from school-site tabling and virtual office hours to pilot integrations within math and social-studies classes. The conversation spotlights successful partnerships with district counseling teams, community nonprofits, and county offices, illustrating how collaborative outreach drives account claiming and financial literacy of California’s youth. Additionally, Dr. Gilchriest explains exactly how families can access their CalKIDS accounts and begin their journey toward early wealth savings—and why California’s model is setting the pace for national system change in youth college-savings seed funding.

 

Educators, counselors, and direct support teams alike will walk away with actionable insights on partnership development, impact measurement, and scaling this equity-focused approach. 

 

On April 9, 2025, over 200 leaders from government, education, philanthropy, and community sectors convened in Sacramento for the inaugural California Early Wealth Account System (CEWAS) Summit. Hosted by the California State Treasurer’s Office in collaboration with CalKIDS, the California Child Savings Account Coalition, and the UCLA CalKIDS Institute, the summit explored bold strategies to expand early wealth-building initiatives across the state.

 

Under the theme Pathways to Promise, the summit emphasized financial equity and the transformative potential of programs like CalKIDS, local CSAs, and the forthcoming HOPE Accounts. Key sessions addressed leveraging policy, building school-based partnerships, and aligning systems to close opportunity gaps.

 

Breakout sessions highlighted best practices from Fresno, Oakland, East San Jose, and Riverside, where local innovation and cross-sector collaboration are redefining how families engage in financial planning from birth.
 

Renowned keynote speaker Dr. Willie Elliott underscored the urgent need to close the racial wealth gap and mainstream asset-building policies. Closing remarks from Deputy Treasurer Stephanie Tom and actress Tiffany Haddish reinforced the summit’s powerful message: wealth-building is not a privilege—it’s a right.
 

With engaging presentations, actionable research, and a shared call to ensure one million CalKIDS accounts are claimed by the end of 2025, CEWAS catalyzed a movement to make early wealth a reality for every child in California. For updates and tools, visit CalKIDS.org or follow the UCLA CalKIDS Institute’s continued efforts to lead statewide systems transformation. Find the full CEWAS Summit program summary here for more details about the engaging event!

The Academic Advancement Program (AAP) and Graduate & Professional Schools (GPS) Exploration Services recently partnered with the UCLA CalKIDS Institute and HowMoneyWorks @ UCLA to host the Winter 2025 Financial Literacy Workshop titled "From Stress to Success—Mastering Your Money Mindset."

 

This collaborative event represented a significant advancement in AAP GPS’s ongoing efforts to empower students with essential academic and financial skills required for their sustained success.

 

The workshop provided students with comprehensive information about California’s statewide CalKIDS savings initiative, detailing eligibility criteria that include California public school graduates from classes 2022 to 2024 and newborns from July 2022 onward. Participants learned step-by-step methods for accessing up to $1,500 in funds designed specifically for educational purposes.

 

Practical sessions were conducted to equip students with strategies on effectively utilizing these resources to alleviate financial burdens. Adding further value, UCLA students Josiah Campbell, and Mathias Wodaj from HowMoneyWorks @ UCLA delivered interactive presentations on budgeting practices, credit management, strategies for handling student loans, and wealth-building techniques.

 

This event highlighted UCLA's dedicated commitment to promoting comprehensive student development, emphasizing not only academic excellence but also the vital importance of financial literacy and independence. By integrating these elements into their educational journey, UCLA ensures students are well-prepared to confidently address future financial challenges and achieve long-term financial stability. To learn more, visit CalKIDS.org,  AAP.UCLA.edu, CalKIDS Institute YouTube..

On April 25, 2025, the Asset Building Clinic (ABC), UCLA CalKIDS Institute, and East LA Community Corporation (ELACC) hosted the  Clinical Skills for Financial Capability & Asset Building Practice:Through Trauma to Hope Master Class. This event united educators, students, and community leaders in Boyle Heights to explore trauma-informed financial empowerment. The transformative event offered tools for integrating healing-centered practices into financial coaching and social work.
 

Dr. Joanna Karczewska opened with a call to blend financial and clinical frameworks, marking ABC’s 10th anniversary. Hermila Melero, LCSW, led an engaging master class, highlighting how trauma—especially historical and collective—impacts financial planning. She emphasized the power of agency, choice, and belonging in helping families shift from survival to transformation.
 

Student voices added depth, with BASW candidate David Zarate sharing how ABC’s support reshaped his educational journey. The event also celebrated Alexi Bullara, recipient of the inaugural ABC Leader Award, for her work advancing equity and financial education.

 

UCLA CalKIDS Institute presented actionable guidance to help families claim up to $1,500 in college savings, reinforcing the event’s message: combining trauma-informed care with financial capability builds generational healing. Held in ELACC’s affordable housing site, the gathering underscored the power of community-rooted solutions in fostering hope and economic mobility.

Behind every successful event and milestone is a team of dedicated individuals who keep everything running seamlessly. We’re excited to introduce more of the incredible staff whose hard work and commitment make it all possible. Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate the extraordinary people who make the program thrive!

Nayiri Nahabedian, an early champion of the CalKIDS policy, serves as the Executive Director of the UCLA CalKIDS Institute, where she continues to advance financial empowerment and possibilities for families and children. Nayiri’s immigrant story fuels her passion of Education. She made history as the first Armenian woman elected to the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, serving for 17 years, including as Board president. She dedicated 22 years as a faculty member at Cal State LA, School of Social Work, preparing and mentoring a generation of changemakers. Nayiri embraces adventure; she enjoys scuba diving and hiked Mount Whitney in 21 hours.

Dr. Mark Hansen is an Associate Adjunct Professor at UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies and Faculty Director of the UCLA CalKIDS Institute. He is a research scientist at the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, & Student Testing (CRESST) and teaches courses in advanced quantitative methods, educational assessment, and program evaluation. Dr. Hansen holds a PhD from UCLA, an MPH from Boston University.

Dr. Mahagoney Borrayo-Gilchriest is a strategic educational leader with over a decade of experience in equity-centered program development across K-12 and higher education. Her commitment to fostering inclusive environments has successfully informed, designed, and implemented initiatives that empower underserved communities and drive student success. A creative thinker, she enjoys designing LEGO creations and simulations, blending her love for innovation with problem-solving in playful yet purposeful ways.

Jimmy Mejia is currently the Administrative and Program Support for the CalKIDS Institute. He graduated from San Diego State with a double major in Environmental Sciences and Geography. Prior to working at the Institute, he worked in both public and non-public schools as a Aide and Substitute Teacher with a focus in mathematics instruction to students who face emotional disturbances, at risk, and encounter developmental disabilities. In his leisure time, Jimmy enjoys watching sports and trying out new restaurants.

Flora Zempleni is a PhD Candidate in UCLA’s Department of Education. Her work broadly focuses on language, immigration, and qualitative research methods. She has been a Graduate Student Researcher working with the UCLA CalKIDS Institute’s research team for over a year. She holds an MA in Learning and Communication in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts from the University of Luxembourg. In her free time, Flora enjoys hiking, reading, and playing and watching soccer.

Sabella Tran has been a Graduate Student Worker for the UCLA CalKIDS Institute for over a year, where she connects with students and stakeholders to advance program goals. She holds a Master of Public Health from UCLA and a Bachelor's degree from UC Irvine. With a background in program management and evaluation, she aims to combine her passion for public health with a commitment to serving diverse communities. In her free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops and making new matcha latte recipes!

Isabella Campa is currently a Graduate Student Worker for the CalKIDS Institute, where she has been apart of the research team. She is currently a Community Health Sciences M.S. candidate at UCLA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from UC San Diego. She aims to become a researcher in maternal and child health and quality of care. In her leisure time, Isabella enjoys traveling and going on walks.