Health

Millions of Americans face serious obstacles to steady work. These individuals often become enmeshed in costly public assistance and enforcement systems, and, just as important, many find themselves living in poverty, outside the mainstream in a society that prizes work and self-sufficiency.

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HealthDisability
Highlights
Brief

Bridging Access to Benefits and Care in Communities Affected by Drug Use

Findings from a Pilot Program in New York City

Bridging Access to Benefits and Care — a collaboration among three nonprofit organizations — was designed to improve connections to public benefits and health care services for people dependent on opioids and intravenous drugs in the Bronx. This brief presents findings from an MDRC study of the pilot program’s implementation.

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Report

Promoting Prenatal Health and Positive Birth Outcomes

A Snapshot of State Efforts

The Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation-Strong Start (MIHOPE-Strong Start) aims to determine whether home visiting programs improve birth- and health-related outcomes up to age 1. This report provides a snapshot of state efforts to promote prenatal health and improve birth outcomes, including but not limited to home visiting.

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Working Paper

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Address Childhood Asthma

A Scan of the Literature and Current Approaches

Low-income and minority children suffer disproportionately from asthma. This review examines efforts to improve education and self-management, remediate asthma “triggers” at home, and improve health care provider practice. It concludes that asthma management education; proper, sustained medication regimes; cost-effective, replicable programs; and steady funding are all critical for addressing health disparities.

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