How earned income tax credits could reduce violence and child abuse for new families
Official title: Critical Policy Gaps in the Earned Income Tax Credit: A Lost Opportunity for Improving Equity and Reducing Youth Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11423374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looks at how the design of the Earned Income Tax Credit affects first-time mothers and whether better policy could reduce child abuse, neglect, and youth violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,293 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CE003764-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with first-time mothers who are pregnant or have a newborn and are eligible for EITC.
✕Less likely to help
Families not affected by EITC policy design or those not impacted by early infancy stress factors.
What this research studies
This project examines whether the way the Earned Income Tax Credit is structured unintentionally places stress on first-time mothers and contributes to negative outcomes for children. Researchers will analyze policy design and its effects on financial security, stress, nutrition, and early development in families with young children. By comparing different groups and scenarios, the team aims to uncover links between EITC timing and family well-being, with the goal of informing more equitable policies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide policy changes that improve financial stability for new families and reduce risk factors for child harm and youth violence.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests tax policy design can influence family well-being, but direct links to violence and child neglect are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gurley, Tami — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gurley, Tami
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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.