Unconditional Gifted Savings for Poverty

Overseen By Dean-SP2

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: Income, Residency, Age

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

Duration: 24 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how a Gifted Savings account might assist people with low incomes in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Participants receive $2,000 in total, with $100 available immediately and $500 available for emergencies each year for two years. The goal is to determine if this financial support can improve financial stability and overall well-being. Ideal candidates for this trial live in Yellow Springs and have a household income of three times the Federal Poverty Level or less. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative financial solutions that could enhance community well-being.

Do I have to stop taking 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 the Gifted Savings program is safe?

Research shows no safety data specifically for the Gifted Savings program. This trial involves a financial intervention, not a medical treatment, so typical safety concerns like side effects do not apply. Participants receive a savings account with a set amount of money, emphasizing financial security over physical safety. In this context, "safety" refers to ensuring the funds are secure and well-managed, allowing participants to use them as intended without negative financial effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Gifted Savings treatment because it takes a unique approach to tackling poverty. Unlike traditional financial aid programs that often come with conditions or are limited in scope, Gifted Savings provides participants with an unconditional savings account. This account includes $2,000 in assets, with funds available for immediate and emergency use. The flexibility and autonomy it offers recipients are key features that set it apart from existing options, potentially empowering individuals to manage financial challenges more effectively. This innovative angle could redefine how financial assistance impacts poverty alleviation.

What evidence suggests that the Gifted Savings program could be effective for poverty?

Research on Gifted Savings programs shows they can positively affect both financial and emotional well-being. In this trial, participants in the treatment group will receive an unconditional Gifted Savings account. Studies suggest this can lower stress and improve financial health. The program provides participants with a set amount of money, potentially leading to better financial stability and increased income over time. Previous trials have shown that similar savings programs help people handle emergencies better and feel more financially secure. This approach aims to empower participants by providing a financial safety net, which could lead to better life outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stacia West, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pennsylvania

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults living in Yellow Springs, Ohio with a household income at or below three times the Federal Poverty Level. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Those not residing in Yellow Springs, under 18, or earning above the income limit cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Resident of Yellow Springs, Ohio

Annual household income of three times the Federal Poverty Level or less

Exclusion Criteria

Annual household income of more than three times the Federal Poverty Level

Not a resident of Yellow Springs, Ohio

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Enrollment

Participants register on the Gifted Savings website to claim their account

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants receive a Gifted Savings account with $2,000 of assets

24 months

Annual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants complete follow-up surveys to assess various financial and psychological outcomes

12 months

6 visits (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Gifted Savings

Trial Overview The study is examining if giving an unconditional Gifted Savings account with $2,000 affects poverty levels. Upon joining, participants get $100 and can use $500 each year for emergencies over two years.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Gifted Savings Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the treatment group will receive an unconditional Gifted Savings account with $2,000 of assets ($100 USD available upon enrollment; $500 USD available for emergency use each year for two years).

Group II: No Gifted Savings Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control group will not receive a Gifted Savings account.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

Universal Gifted Savings

Collaborator

Trials

1

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) significantly reduced food insecurity by 2.4% among families with children under 6 years, based on a study of 22,737 eligible respondents compared to a control group of 17,664.

The impact of UCCB was even more pronounced in vulnerable groups, with reductions of 4.3% in households earning below the median income and 5.4% in single-parent families, highlighting its effectiveness as a targeted income support measure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A difference-in-differences approach to estimate the effect of income-supplementation on food insecurity. Ionescu-Ittu, R., Glymour, MM., Kaufman, JS.[2014]

Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) may not significantly improve overall health service use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but they probably lead to a meaningful reduction in the likelihood of illness and may enhance food security and dietary diversity over time.

UCTs likely increase school attendance among children, indicating a positive impact on education, while the effects compared to conditional cash transfers (CCTs) remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unconditional cash transfers for reducing poverty and vulnerabilities: effect on use of health services and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Pega, F., Liu, SY., Walter, S., et al.[2022]

The FXBVillage poverty-alleviation model significantly improved household wealth and living conditions for extremely poor families in Rwanda and Uganda, with notable increases in meal frequency, school attendance, and access to school supplies.

The program achieved nearly universal bednet ownership and water treatment, but vaccine coverage remained low, particularly in Uganda, indicating areas for further improvement in health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An assessment of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud poverty alleviation program in Rwanda and Uganda. Harhay, MO., Fawzi, MC., Jeanneret, S., et al.[2020]

The implementation of a pharmacist-led pediatrics medication safety team (PMST) in a pediatric critical care center resulted in a significant increase in reported medication errors, with reporting rates increasing sixfold from the initial phase to the final phase of the study.

Despite the increase in reported errors, the severity of these errors decreased dramatically, indicating that the PMST and educational interventions improved overall medication safety, with severe errors dropping from 46% to 0% over the study period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a pharmacist-led pediatrics medication safety team on medication-error reporting. Costello, JL., Torowicz, DL., Yeh, TS.[2022]

Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) may not significantly affect overall health service use in low- and middle-income countries, but they probably lead to a substantial reduction in the likelihood of illness and may improve food security and dietary diversity.

UCTs likely increase school attendance and may reduce extreme poverty, indicating positive effects on social determinants of health, although their relative effectiveness compared to conditional cash transfers (CCTs) remains uncertain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unconditional cash transfers for reducing poverty and vulnerabilities: effect on use of health services and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Pega, F., Pabayo, R., Benny, C., et al.[2023]

Adverse event rates in pediatric patients at teaching hospitals are linked to the complexity of services offered, such as transplantation and pediatric open-heart surgery, indicating that more advanced care may lead to higher risks of mistakes.

The study found that higher rates of adverse events are associated with less experienced providers, particularly during the 'July effect' when new residents start, suggesting that hospitals need to focus on improving training and safety protocols to enhance care quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pediatric Adverse Event Rates Associated With Inexperience in Teaching Hospitals: A Multilevel Analysis. Dynan, L., Goudie, A., Brady, PW.[2019]

Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) showed some positive effects on health outcomes, such as a significant reduction in child mortality and severe acute malnutrition, but the overall evidence quality was very low due to methodological limitations in the studies reviewed.

In-hand UCTs improved household dietary diversity compared to mobile payments, but there was no clear evidence that UCTs affected other important health service uses or social determinants of health, highlighting the need for more rigorous research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unconditional cash transfers for assistance in humanitarian disasters: effect on use of health services and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Pega, F., Liu, SY., Walter, S., et al.[2022]

In a study of 6,376 children treated in pediatric emergency departments, 3.0% experienced at least one adverse event related to their care, highlighting a significant safety risk in this setting.

Most of these adverse events (76.5%) were deemed preventable, primarily due to management and diagnostic issues, indicating that there are clear opportunities for improving patient safety and care quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How safe are paediatric emergency departments? A national prospective cohort study. Plint, AC., Newton, AS., Stang, A., et al.[2022]

The Care One program, which provides intensive care management for high-cost, medically complex patients, was associated with a significant reduction in billed charges, averaging $92,227 per patient, indicating its potential effectiveness in cost containment.

Using a difference-in-difference model, the program showed a more conservative reduction of $44,504 per patient compared to a control group, highlighting the program's ability to lower costs while managing complex health needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Economic Impact of Intensive Care Management for High-Cost Medically Complex Patients: An Evaluation of New Mexico's Care One Program. Horn, BP., Crandall, C., Moffett, M., et al.[2017]

In a study of 867 long-stay nursing facility residents, it was found that symptoms like falls, trauma, or fractures were more commonly treated in the emergency department (ED) rather than resulting in hospital admissions, indicating a potential area for reducing unnecessary hospital transfers.

Residents with cognitive impairment and respiratory complaints were more likely to be admitted to the hospital, while those presenting with hematological issues, pain, or falls were less likely to be hospitalized, suggesting that understanding these characteristics can help optimize transfer protocols and reduce hospitalizations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-Stay Nursing Facility Resident Transfers: Who Gets Admitted to the Hospital? Unroe, KT., Caterino, JM., Stump, TE., et al.[2021]

The combination of a clinical model and financial incentives in nursing facilities led to a 4.1 percentage point reduction in the risk of all-cause transfers among residents, indicating improved care management.

Certain resident characteristics, such as being aged 95 or older and having advanced cognitive impairment, were associated with a lower risk of potentially avoidable hospitalizations, highlighting the importance of tailored care approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Facility and resident characteristics associated with variation in nursing home transfers: evidence from the OPTIMISTIC demonstration project. Blackburn, J., Balio, CP., Carnahan, JL., et al.[2021]

From 2010 to 2015, a review of 2544 adverse events in pediatric anesthesia revealed that the most common issues were cardiac arrests (31.6%), respiratory complications (29.2%), and medication errors (16.9%).

A striking 85% of anesthesia-related serious adverse events were considered preventable, highlighting the need for innovations focused on reducing medication errors to enhance patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes from wake up safe, the pediatric anesthesia quality improvement initiative. Haché, M., Sun, LS., Gadi, G., et al.[2021]

The No Harm Patient Safety Program at a children's hospital led to a significant reduction in serious safety events (SSEs), achieving a decrease from 0.19 in 2014 to 0.00 by 2016, with the hospital reaching two years without any SSEs by July 2017.

The program also resulted in a notable decline in central line-associated bloodstream infections from 2.8 to 1.6 per 1,000 line-days between 2015 and 2016, indicating improved patient safety outcomes through targeted interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing Serious Safety Events and Priority Hospital-Acquired Conditions in a Pediatric Hospital with the Implementation of a Patient Safety Program. Phipps, AR., Paradis, M., Peterson, KA., et al.[2019]

The implementation of an outcomes-management program for gynecologic oncology procedures significantly reduced the median hospital stay from 6 days to 4 days, indicating improved efficiency in patient care.

The program also led to substantial cost reductions, including a 74% decrease in laboratory costs and a 20% decrease in total hospital costs, while maintaining high patient satisfaction and no readmissions for complications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An outcomes management program in gynecologic oncology. Morris, M., Levenback, C., Burke, TW., et al.[2022]

A complex care program (CCP) targeting high-risk Medicaid patients led to a significant reduction in emergency room visits (67%) and hospitalizations (65%) over 18 months, indicating improved patient management.

The program demonstrated a strong return on investment of 2.2:1, suggesting that investing in complex care for patients with multiple needs can lead to substantial cost savings and enhanced patient satisfaction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Building a Medicaid Ambulatory Complex Care Program Within an Urban Medical Home. Sander, LD., Albert, M., Okeke, N., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06119074

A Novel Unconditional Gifted Savings Program Over three years, researchers will measure the impacts of receiving a Gifted Savings account on: Psychological distress; Employment and income; Financial well- ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-poverty-10-2023-e5022

Unconditional Gifted Savings for Poverty · Info for Participants The goal of this randomized control trial is to test the impacts of an unconditional Gifted Savings account of $2,000 of assets ($100 United States Dollars ...

3. giftedsavings.org giftedsavings.org/

Gifted Savings Gifted Savings gifts $1,000 in investments to high school seniors, who track and learn with real assets, and access them at 18.

4. giftedsavings.org giftedsavings.org/how-it-works

How It Works Gifted Savings provides $1,000 in diversified investments per student, who track growth and share learnings. Patrons cover operational costs, so 100% of donor ...

5. app.trialscreen.org app.trialscreen.org/trials/novel-unconditional-gifted-savings-program-trial-nct06119074

A Novel Unconditional Gifted Savings Program Unconditional Gifted Savings Program Study. Evaluating the Impact of an Unconditional Gifted Savings Account on Financial Well-being.

6. giftedsavings.org giftedsavings.org/tos

Terms of Service Recipients are required to provide accurate gross income and dependent information to validate their financial need. To participate in the Program, your gross ...