Direct cash works — the science is clear.

Direct cash works — the science is clear.

Across dozens of peer-reviewed studies, cash during pregnancy and infancy produces replicated gains in birth outcomes, maternal mental health, family stability, and children's long-run earnings.
Across dozens of peer-reviewed studies, cash during pregnancy and infancy produces replicated gains in birth outcomes, maternal mental health, family stability, and children's long-run earnings.

See the evidence

Our research agenda

46%

Poverty cut

National drop in child poverty under the 2021 expanded CTC

5%

Fewer

Child-neglect reports for every $1,000 of cash received

2-10%

Reduction

Birthweight incidence for every $1,000 of cash received

Our research committee

Building the evidence base for perinatal cash transfers, together.

Building the evidence base for perinatal cash transfers, together.

Build a learning community

Connect researchers and sites across the network through shared learning, peer exchange, and a common research agenda.

Generate evidence that matters

Produce rigorous, cross-site research — including a flagship meta-analysis — grounded in the questions policymakers and advocates actually need answered.

Share what we learn

Translate findings into accessible, usable evidence for advocates, funders, and the public.

Build the infrastructure to sustain it

Align data and measurement across sites, and secure the funding to solidify the evidence base.

01
Making the case

Six claims, and the research

behind each one.

The case for cash during the periods before and after birth is cumulative. Each claim is followed by the studies that support it — expand a claim to see its citations.

01
Making the case

Six claims, and

the research behind each one.

The case for cash during the periods before and after birth is cumulative. Each claim is followed by the studies that support it — expand a claim to see its citations.

Direct cash is the most effective tool for alleviating poverty that we know.

3
Studies

Prenatal cash is associated with increased birth weight, an important metric for long-term wellbeing.

9
Studies

Prenatal cash is associated with improved mental health during pregnancy, which improves wellbeing for children.

6
Studies

Our long-term mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing is deeply influenced by our experiences in utero and infancy.

20
Studies

Targeted payments during pregnancy and infancy have the highest return on investment.

2
Studies

Income support during pregnancy has long-term benefits for both the parent and the child.

11
Studies
Get involved

If you study cash for families in the first 1,000 days, we'd love to hear from you.

If you study cash for families in the first 1,000 days, we'd love to hear from you.

The research comittee is open to researchers, evaluators, and program teams collecting data across the network.

Get in touch