Cash Transfers and Peer Support for Family Health
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?
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
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
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Families receive monthly cash transfers and may participate in peer support services
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for outcomes related to family and child well-being after intervention
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer support
Large unconditional cash transfers plus voluntary peer support is already approved in United States, Canada for the following indications:
- Homelessness reduction
- Financial stability improvement
- Homelessness reduction
- Financial stability improvement
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Vanderbilt University
Lead Sponsor
New York City Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI)
Collaborator
Women in Need (Win)
Collaborator
The Samuels Group
Collaborator