Work-based antipoverty programs for parents can enhance the school performance and social behavior of children

We assess the impact of the New Hope Project, an antipoverty program tested in a random assignment experimental design, on family functioning and deve lopmental outcomes for preschool- and school-aged children (N = 913). New H ope offered wage supplements sufficient to raise family income above the po verty threshold and subsidies for child care and health insurance to adults who worked full-time. New Hope had strong positive effects on boys' academ ic achievement, classroom behavior skills, positive social behavior, and pr oblem behaviors, as reported by teachers, and on boys' own expectations for advanced education and occupational aspirations. There were not correspond ing program effects for girls. The child outcomes may have resulted from a combination of the following: Children in New Hope families spent more time in formal child care programs and other structured activities away from ho me than did children in control families. New Hope parents were employed mo re, had more material resources, reported more social support, and expresse d less stress and more optimism about achieving their goals than did parent s in the control sample. The results suggest that an anti-poverty program t hat provides support for combining work and family responsibilities can hav e beneficial effects on the development of school-age children.