Mothers Outreach Network Reaches Next Phase in Guaranteed Income Pilot

The Mother Up pilot is a guaranteed income pilot for mothers involved in the family policing system in Washington DC led by Mother’s Outreach Network.

By ensuring families have direct, unconditional financial support, this initiative helps prevent unnecessary state intervention, reducing the likelihood of child welfare investigations and removals. We are excited about the growing demand for guaranteed income programs as a way to reduce the reach of the family policing system by addressing poverty—one of the primary reasons families are surveilled and separated.

The Mother Up research group published the results of their Phase 2 Pre-pilot.

• The study of 19 participants featured a Direct Cash group, which received unconditional payments of $500 per month for twelve months as well as up to $240 for participation in surveys and interviews, and a Compensated Research group, which received up to $240 for participation in surveys and interviews but no cash.
• Eligible participants were Black mothers living in D.C. who had experienced an investigation of the District of Columbia’s Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) for an allegation of child neglect within twelve months of enrollment.
• Of the 11 participants who received the guaranteed income, seven described using the money to spend more quality time with their children, six described using it to resolve issues which contributed to their initial CFSA case, and five described using it to pay off bills and debts. In addition, several discussed how the income gave them more independence from past abusive relationships, allowing them to feel more secure and safe.

“The money has really helped me a lot. Like it helps me to the point where I can still pay my bills and still have some money left over. I can put money away for my kids. And like I said, get them, you know, like, a new pair of shoes if they can’t fit their old ones. I don’t have to worry about, oh, my goodness, am I going to have money after I get their shoes? I was actually able to get myself a pair ofshoes last weekend and I have not bought myself anything in like two years since I got pregnant. So, it was like, you know, it felt great. I wanted to cry. It felt really great to do that for myself.” – Participant 6

• The interviews suggest that the guaranteed income payments brought stability to participants’ lives with no observable effect on labor force participation, and in some cases eliminated financial barriers to employment like lack of childcare.
• Although the next step is to replicate the study on a larger scale, these early interviews showed that finances played a role in CFSA involvement, and that sufficient financial support could both facilitate an earlier end to CFSA oversight and monitoring as well as avoid future involvement.
• The next phase of Mother Up will explore a three-year provision of guaranteed income for a population of up to thirty mothers with more extensive CFSA involvement. Follow Mothers Outreach Network for more updates.

To learn more about abolitionist steps to end the family policing system that affirm child, family, and community autonomy and promote healing, explore our Framework Tool for evaluating policies and programs.