California Abundant Birth Project: does guaranteed income during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and child development?
Official title: The California Abundant Birth Project Evaluation: Understanding the Impact of Perinatal Income Supplementation on Pregnancy Outcomes and Child Development
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11607102 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A government-backed program gives pregnant people in California monthly income to reduce stress, with researchers studying how this helps birth outcomes and early child development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $100,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD115985-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11607102 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people in Alameda, Contra Costa, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties who are eligible for the CA-ABP guaranteed income program and willing to participate in surveys and medical record data collection.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who do not experience reduced stress or improved outcomes, or who discontinue participation early, may not see benefits.
What this research studies
This project tests whether unconditional monthly income during pregnancy and postpartum can reduce stress, improve maternal mental health, and lead to healthier babies. Researchers will use mixed methods and community partnerships to track health records and survey data at multiple timepoints up to 12 months postpartum. The study expands data collection to include postpartum periods and medical record abstraction to understand potential benefits for both mothers and infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could inform policies that support healthier pregnancies and child development through financial stability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous evaluations suggest financial supports can influence stress and some health outcomes, but results vary by context and population.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gomez, Anu Manchikanti — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Gomez, Anu Manchikanti
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.