200 Participants Needed

Cash Transfers and Peer Support for Family Health

MS
Overseen ByMarybeth Shinn, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Approved in 2 JurisdictionsThis treatment is already approved in other countries

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of cash transfers and peer support for family health?

Research shows that cash transfers can lead to positive health effects by increasing financial resources, which may help people access healthcare and adopt healthier behaviors. Although the impact varies, studies have found that cash transfers can improve health outcomes in specific conditions, suggesting potential benefits for family health.12345

Are cash transfers and peer support generally safe for human health?

The research does not specifically address safety concerns related to cash transfers and peer support, but it suggests that these interventions are generally used to improve health outcomes without indicating any direct harm to participants.12367

How does the treatment of large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer support differ from other treatments for family health?

This treatment is unique because it combines large unconditional cash transfers, which provide financial support without conditions, with voluntary peer support to address social determinants of health, such as poverty and education, rather than directly targeting medical conditions. Unlike traditional medical treatments, this approach aims to improve overall family health by enhancing financial stability and social cohesion.14589

What is the purpose of this trial?

The Growing Strong program tests a novel approach to helping families with young children living in homeless shelters, namely offering guaranteed, unconditional cash gifts that families can use as they wish plus voluntary peer support. The assumption behind this approach is that families know best how to allocate resources to meet their own individual needs. While there are a number of Direct Cash Transfer studies taking place around the country, the investigator(s) are unaware of any that have tested the relationship of receiving cash on homelessness among families specifically. To be eligible to participate in the study, families must reside in a homeless shelter and have at least one child under two years of age living with them in shelter. The investigator(s) have tied eligibility to the age of the youngest child in the household because rates of shelter use are highest among this population and because the costs associated with young children increase such families' financial burdens.A total of 200 families will be enrolled in the study. One hundred families in the active intervention group will receive $1,500 per month ("substantial cash") for 24 months ($18,000 annually) and may also elect to receive peer support services. One hundred families in the active comparison group will receive $50 per month ("nominal cash") for 24 months ($600 annually) and will not have access to the peer support services. A third, passive comparison group will receive usual care within the homeless shelter system in the same metropolitan area (New York City) as participants in both cash gift groups. This group of families will be followed only in administrative records.The main research questions are: does providing substantial, unconditional cash transfers plus access to voluntary peer support services over 24 months a) reduce the length of time in shelter for families with young children and/or b) improve other aspects of family and child well-being relative to providing nominal cash transfers alone or usual care.

Research Team

MS

Marybeth Shinn, PhD

Principal Investigator

Vanderbilt University

Eligibility Criteria

The Growing Strong study is for families with at least one child under two years old living in a homeless shelter. It aims to see if giving these families cash without conditions, along with optional peer support, can help them get out of the shelter faster and improve their well-being.

Inclusion Criteria

My baby is under 2 years old.
I am an adult with custody of the child.
My family was deemed eligible for shelter within the last month.
See 1 more

Exclusion Criteria

None: any family configuration is permissible

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Families receive monthly cash transfers and may participate in peer support services

24 months
Monthly cash transfers

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes related to family and child well-being after intervention

6 months
Surveys at 6, 18, and 30 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer support
Trial Overview This trial tests unconditional cash gifts ($1,500/month) plus voluntary peer support against smaller cash transfers ($50/month) or usual care in shelters. The goal is to determine if more money and support can reduce time spent in shelters and enhance family health.
Participant Groups
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Passive comparisonExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
These propensity-matched families will reside in other New York City shelters and will be followed anonymously in administrative records only. The will receive usual care from shelter staff.
Group II: Large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer supportExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
These participants will receive monthly cash transfers of $1,500 via debit card for 24 months and can elect to participate in peer support services plus usual care from shelter staff.
Group III: Nominal cash transfersActive Control1 Intervention
These participants will receive monthly cash transfers of $50 via debit card for 24 months plus usual care from shelter staff.

Large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer support is already approved in United States, Canada for the following indications:

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Approved in United States as Unconditional Cash Transfers for:
  • Homelessness reduction
  • Financial stability improvement
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Approved in Canada as Direct Cash Transfers for:
  • Homelessness reduction
  • Financial stability improvement

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Vanderbilt University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
714
Recruited
6,143,000+

New York City Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI)

Collaborator

Trials
1
Recruited
200+

Women in Need (Win)

Collaborator

Trials
1
Recruited
200+

The Samuels Group

Collaborator

Trials
1
Recruited
200+

Findings from Research

The review included 127 studies from 24 countries, focusing on how recipients perceive cash transfer programs aimed at improving health outcomes, revealing that while recipients found cash transfers helpful for immediate needs, they often felt the amounts provided were insufficient for their total needs.
Recipients reported that cash transfers improved their empowerment and social cohesion but also faced challenges such as stigma, pressure on cash usage, and barriers to accessing the programs, indicating that broader social and cultural factors significantly influence the effectiveness of these interventions.
Experiences of conditional and unconditional cash transfers intended for improving health outcomes and health service use: a qualitative evidence synthesis.Yoshino, CA., Sidney-Annerstedt, K., Wingfield, T., et al.[2023]
A scoping review of 68 studies across 25 countries found that conditional cash transfer (CCT) interventions significantly improved health outcomes, with 78% of studies reporting positive effects, particularly in areas like infectious diseases and maternal health.
The studies included a wide range of participants, from 47 to 5,788 individuals, indicating that CCTs can be effective across diverse populations and settings, although the amount of cash disbursed varied, with most payments being $20 or less.
Conditional cash transfers to improve health-focused outcomes: a global scoping review.Rezaei, SJ., de Walque, D., Mateen, FJ.[2023]
Cash transfers, which are financial resources provided through social policies, have been shown to positively impact health outcomes, although the effects can vary based on different factors.
Ongoing research into innovative policies like universal basic income and Child Development Accounts may further enhance the effectiveness of cash transfers in improving health.
Cash Transfers and Health.Sun, S., Huang, J., Hudson, DL., et al.[2021]

References

Experiences of conditional and unconditional cash transfers intended for improving health outcomes and health service use: a qualitative evidence synthesis. [2023]
Conditional cash transfers to improve health-focused outcomes: a global scoping review. [2023]
Cash Transfers and Health. [2021]
Systematic Review on the Impact of Conditional Cash Transfers on Child Health Service Utilisation and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa. [2022]
Role of cash in conditional cash transfer programmes for child health, growth, and development: an analysis of Mexico's Oportunidades. [2022]
Costs and consequences of a cash transfer for hospital births in a rural district of Uttar Pradesh, India. [2022]
Can money prevent the spread of HIV? A review of cash payments for HIV prevention. [2022]
The impact of cash transfers on social determinants of health and health inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. [2022]
Brazil's conditional cash transfer program associated with declines in infant mortality rates. [2022]
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