Growing up in poverty is associated with detrimental effects on children’s cognitive development, brain development, health and achievement. Yet, the extent to which the most straightforward  antipoverty intervention – giving families money – improves early childhood development has never been tested. Launched in May 2018, the Baby’s First Years (BFY) study is the first randomized controlled trial of poverty reduction in early childhood in the United States. In this talk, Magnuson will discuss the design and development of this mixed-methods landmark study as well as early insights from data collection efforts.

This lecture is part of the Interdisciplinary Training Program Seminar Series. Founded in 2005 at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, ITP prepares doctoral scholars for careers in education science. The program provides specialized academic, professional and financial support and field research opportunities for up to 25 graduate fellows every year.