Cash Transfers for Child Neurodevelopment

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Cristiane Duarte, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute

Disqualifiers: Major Axis I disorder, MRI contradictions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

450 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how varying amounts of additional cash support to families in Brazil can affect children's brain development and mental health. Families already participating in a cash transfer program will receive either a higher ($40/month) or lower ($2/month) extra cash amount. The trial targets mothers already in the cash program with school-age children (7-10 years old) living with them. The researchers aim to determine if increased financial support can reduce stress factors and enhance children's development over two years. As an unphased trial, this study provides families the opportunity to contribute to important research that could influence future support programs.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

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

What prior data suggests that this cash transfer program is safe for child neurodevelopment?

Research has shown that giving cash to families is safe in similar situations. For example, one study in the U.S. found that when low-income families received cash, their children showed better brain activity without negative effects. Another study found that cash transfers improved birth outcomes and enhanced maternal well-being.

These results suggest that providing extra cash is generally safe for families. No reports of harm have been directly linked to receiving this money. However, participants should consider their own situations and discuss any concerns with the trial team. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the impact of supplemental cash transfers on child neurodevelopment, which is a novel and non-medical approach. Unlike typical treatments that might involve medication or therapy to support child development, this approach uses financial assistance to potentially improve living conditions and reduce stress in households. The unique aspect here is the focus on economic support as an intervention, which could highlight new pathways for enhancing child development outcomes. By comparing low ($2/month) and high ($40/month) cash transfers, researchers aim to understand if and how financial resources directly influence neurodevelopment in children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's cash transfer treatments could be effective for child neurodevelopment?

This trial will compare the effects of different levels of supplemental cash transfers on child neurodevelopment. Research has shown that providing families with extra money can positively impact children's development. Studies have found that children in families receiving this financial help tend to exhibit better brain activity and experience less stunted growth. Specifically, one study found that children from families with more financial support showed fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Another study demonstrated that cash transfers can improve family relationships, benefiting children's mental health. These findings suggest that increasing financial support for families could enhance children's overall development and well-being. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Cristiane Duarte, PhD

Principal Investigator

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Jonathan Posner, MD

Principal Investigator

Duke University

Andrea Jackowsi, PhD

Principal Investigator

Federal University of São Paulo

Tenneill Murray, MPH

Principal Investigator

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for mothers aged 23-45 in Brazil with at least one child aged 7-10, already receiving Auxilio Brasil cash transfers. They must be able to give consent and have a willingness to participate along with their child.

Inclusion Criteria

Mother: Able to consent

Mother: Receiving AB cash transfers

I am a mother with a child aged 7-10.

Exclusion Criteria

Mother: Mother and child do not reside in the same household

Child: Does not reside in the same household as the mother

Child: ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders will not be exclusionary because of their high prevalence

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Initial assessments including MRI scans, biospecimen collection, and behavioral evaluations

1 month

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Families receive either high or low supplemental cash transfers for 24 months

24 months

Periodic assessments at 8, 16, and 24 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes post-intervention

6 months

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Supplemental cash transfer

Trial Overview The study tests if giving extra money ($40 vs $2 per month) to families can protect children's brain development and mental health. It randomly assigns families to receive different amounts of cash for two years, then checks the effects on kids' stress levels and behavior.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

High supplemental transfer: $40 a month

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Low supplemental transfer: $2 a month

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

481

Recruited

154,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05477901

Impacts of Cash Transfers on Child Neurodevelopment ... This study examines the impact of Auxilio Brasil (AB), a cash transfer program to mothers of school-age children, on resource-deprived populations in Brazil ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9396462/

Long-term Outcomes of Childhood Family Income ... Participants whose families received cash transfers during their childhood reported fewer anxiety, depressive, and cannabis-related symptoms and improved ...

3. pnas.org pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2115649119

The impact of a poverty reduction intervention on infant ... This study demonstrates the causal impact of a poverty reduction intervention on early childhood brain activity.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7751217/

Cash transfers and child nutritional outcomes: a systematic ... We found that CT programmes targeted to households with young children improved linear growth and contributed to reduced stunting.

5. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62438-x

Effects of unconditional cash transfers on family processes ... This study examines causal impacts of unconditional cash transfers on economic hardship and key family processes that may affect children's ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11821281/

A randomized trial of cash transfers to low-income U.S. ... Infants of mothers receiving the high-cash gift show faster-paced brain activity when compared to infants of control mothers, in a pattern that ...

7. cssp.org cssp.org/new-findings-from-rx-kids-shows-that-unconditional-cash-in-perinatal-stage-can-improve-health-and-well-being-for-moms-and-babies/

New Findings from Rx Kids Shows that Unconditional Cash ... Unconditional cash can have significant positive effects on birth outcomes, maternal economic stability, mental health, and well-being.

8. rxkids.org rxkids.org/the-state-of-research-on-child-cash-transfers-and-child-well-being/

The State of Research on Child Cash Transfers and ... At scale, unconditional cash transfers to families—especially those with young children—have consistently been associated with reductions in poverty, food ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12171960/

Cash Transfers and Their Effect on Maternal and Young ... Monthly unconditional cash transfers totaling approximately $15 000 over 4 years to mothers with low incomes did not improve maternal mental ...