MotherUp
MotherUp is a guaranteed income research pilot operated by Mother's Outreach Network (MON), a Washington DC nonprofit advocacy organization, in partnership with the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School. First-phase recruitment began in December 2022 and payments started in May 2023, providing $500/month in unconditional cash assistance to Black mothers in DC whose children were removed by or are involved with the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). The privately/philanthropically funded pilot is structured as a multi-phase randomized controlled trial studying how guaranteed income affects family stability and child welfare involvement. Phase III launched applications in December 2025 and is recruiting on a rolling basis, offering up to $500/month for 36 months to selected participants.
Black Mothers, Guaranteed Income, Child Welfare System Involvement, CFSA, Harvard Access to Justice Lab, Washington DC, Randomized Controlled Trial
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Mother's Outreach Network
- City
- Washington
- State / Province
- District of Columbia
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 202 818 8649
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Rolling
- Number of recipients
- 30
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 18,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 36 months
- Distribution Type
- Reloadable prepaid card
- Benefit details
Participants randomized into the direct cash transfer group receive $500/month, loaded onto a reloadable prepaid card, for up to 36 months with no work requirements or strings attached. Participants in the compensated research group (who do not receive monthly cash) and those in the cash group can also earn incentive payments for completing research surveys and interviews. All selected participants gain access to MON's legal program regardless of group assignment. Prior phases varied: Phase I paid $500/month for up to 36 months to 4 enrolled mothers; Phase II paid $500/month for 12 months ($6,000 total) to 12 of 19 enrolled mothers, with incentive payments up to $180-240 for research participation.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants must be Black/African-American mothers, age 18 or older, living in Washington DC (Phase III prioritizes Wards 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, or those experiencing housing instability), who are the biological mother with custodial responsibility for a child age 14 or younger removed from the home by DC CFSA/CPS within the past year. Applicants must be income-eligible for public benefits such as TANF/SNAP (historically 250% of the Federal Poverty Level or below) but must not be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), since participation could jeopardize those benefits. Phase III also requires English proficiency. Not all eligible applicants are guaranteed selection; a computer randomly assigns selected participants to either the direct cash transfer group or the compensated-research-only group.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Black / African-American
- Language
- English
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
Geography
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Washington DC
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- All participants (both cash and research-only groups) receive access to Mother's Outreach Network's legal program/services as a program benefit, not a separate enrollment requirement
- Research / participation requirements
MotherUp is operated by Mother's Outreach Network with independent evaluation by the Access to Justice Lab (A2J Lab) at Harvard Law School, led by Dr. Jim Greiner. The study uses a randomized controlled trial and qualitative methods (surveys and interviews) to examine how guaranteed income affects family stability, parental wellbeing, and CFSA/child welfare involvement. Participants are compensated for completing research activities. Findings (e.g., Phase II final report, Nov. 2025) are used to inform guaranteed income and child welfare policy advocacy.
Application Process
- How to apply
Prospective participants complete an online eligibility screener/application (Phase III link: bit.ly/MotherUpPhase3) or contact the program via pilot@mothersoutreachnetwork.org or (202) 818-8649 ext. 1. Phase III applications opened in December 2025 on a rolling basis until cohort capacity is reached.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants are not all guaranteed selection. Selected participants are randomly assigned by computer to either the direct cash transfer group or the compensated research group, as part of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design conducted with the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School.
