A mother holds her toddler, who is playing with a model airplane
An Illinois guaranteed basic income program will give cash to 800 families involved in the child welfare system.
  • Illinois is launching a guaranteed basic income pilot for families in the child welfare system.
  • The EmPwR program will provide monthly cash payments to 400 families for a year.
  • Researchers want to see if financial support reduces child neglect and improves family safety.

Experts in Illinois are planning to test whether cash can help reduce cases of child maltreatment.