Investing in Youth through Direct Cash Transfers
What did we learn?
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Receiving the cash transfer alone ($150 a week) led to an increase in healthy behaviors and a reduction in unhealthy behaviors such as drinking alcohol, using marijuana, taking prescription medication without a prescription, being in a physical fight, carrying a weapon, or using a vapor product.
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Receiving the cash transfer plus after school programming improved the financial health of participants.
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There were no statistically significant differences between either treatment group and the control group for spending on alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or other drugs, meaning the treatment groups did not purchase more of these items than the control group.
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The young men who participated in the program told us that the programming plus cash transfer helped them avoid the violence of their neighborhoods, stay out of trouble, learn valuable skills, and form meaningful connections.