Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .
The effects of early education intervention on maternal employment, public assistance, and health insurance: the infant health and development program.
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to test whether early education intervention influences maternal employment , education , fertility , and receipt of public assistance and health insurance . METHODS The Infant Health and Development Program is a r and omized trial of the efficacy of early education on the outcomes of 985 low-birthweight , premature children . Families in eight sites received either pediatric follow-up and referral ( follow-up only group ) or pediatric services plus early intervention services ( intervention group ) for the first 3 years of the child 's life . RESULTS Mothers in the intervention group were employed more months and returned to the work force earlier than those in the follow-up only group . Fertility and education were not associated with treatment . Mothers who had some college education received more months of public assistance in the intervention group compared with the follow-up only group . Mothers who were employed received more public assistance and public health insurance in the intervention group compared with the follow-up only group , when maternal employment was controlled . CONCLUSIONS Findings are discussed in terms of the recent emphasis on two-generational programs directed to providing health , welfare , and child care services to young children and their families
Our comprehensive review and meta- analysis of these experiments find suggestive evidence of health benefits associated with investments in early life , income support , and health insurance interventions .
Housing and neighborhood trials had no effect on the outcomes included in the meta-analyses .
A positive effect of the trial on its primary socioeconomic outcome was associated with higher odds of reporting health improvements .
Early life , income , and health insurance interventions have the potential to improve health .
Policy Points Social policies might not only improve economic well-being , but also health .
Health policy experts have therefore advocated for investments in social policies both to improve population health and potentially reduce health system costs .
Since the 1960s , a large number of social policies have been experimentally evaluated in the United States .
Some of these experiments include health outcomes , providing a unique opportunity to inform evidence -based policymaking .
CONTEXT Insurers and health care providers are investing heavily in nonmedical social interventions in an effort to improve health and potentially reduce health care costs .