Maternal Infant Health & Direct Cash Transfers
This brief examines how direct cash transfers (DCTs) can improve maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly among low-income and racially marginalized populations, by reducing poverty during pregnancy and early parenthood
Developed through the Resilient Families Hub under the Facing Financial Shock initiative, the report explores how poverty during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal mortality—disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and other women of color.
It reviews research linking income supplements such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend to improved birth outcomes and reduced disparities. The brief concludes with case studies of modern cash transfer programs—like California’s Abundant Birth Project, Flint’s Rx Kids, and The Nest—that test direct income supports as tools to advance maternal and infant health equity
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