Ferndale

Researchers are evaluating how providing free contraception to mothers affects the well-being and development of their children. This study focuses on mothers aged 18 to 35 who are biologically female, able to have children, and at risk of pregnancy but not currently pregnant. The study compares children of mothers who received no-cost contraception vouchers to those whose mothers did not receive vouchers, aiming to understand the long-term effects up to age 18. The intervention involves giving mothers vouchers covering the full or partial cost of a name-brand intrauterine device (IUD) at Planned Parenthood clinics in Michigan. One group of mothers received vouchers covering 50% of the IUD cost between August 26, 2018, and March 3, 2019, while another group received vouchers covering 100% of the cost from March 4, 2019, to March 31, 2023. Mothers who did not receive vouchers serve as the control group. Participants complete baseline surveys and follow-up interviews over several years. Researchers also link mothers' and children's administrative records from health, education, criminal justice, and tax databases to measure outcomes like the number of siblings born after enrollment and children's standardized achievement test scores at 1, 3, and 5 years post-enrollment. The study tracks children's development and well-being until they reach 18 years old.