Impact of perinatal income support on pregnancy 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-11377103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A government-funded program in California gives pregnant people with stress-reducing income support to see if money during pregnancy and after birth leads to healthier babies and better early 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) | $647,937 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD115985-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals in Alameda, Contra Costa, Riverside, or Los Angeles counties who are randomly selected for the CA-ABP program.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not enrolled or not receiving income supplements may not experience the potential benefits.
What this research studies
This project tests whether unconditional monthly income supplements during pregnancy and the first year after birth can reduce stress, improve maternal mental health, and support healthier infant growth in four California counties. It uses a mixed-methods, community-driven approach and adds multiple postpartum data points as well as medical record abstraction to understand outcomes. By following participants through 12 months after birth, researchers aim to connect financial stability with perinatal health and early child development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could inform policy about cash support during pregnancy to improve birth outcomes and child development.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evaluations suggest that financial support can influence stress and some health outcomes, but this study expands follow-up and links to child development outcomes.
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.