Growing Futures

Growing Futures is a community-engaged research initiative led by the Program for Recovery and Community Health at the Yale School of Medicine. Our current research, funded by The Connecticut Project, examines the social, economic, and health impacts of Connecticut’s Baby Bonds, a groundbreaking policy spearheaded by the states Office of the Treasurer, that invests public funds in every child born after July 1, 2023, whose birth was covered by CT Medicaid (HUSKY). Our multidisciplinary, cross-institution research team includes Dr. Annie Harper, Dr. Tiffany N. Younger, Dr. Eric Sun, Ethelia Holt and Kristine Irizzary (Yale), Dr. Victor Roy (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Naomi Zewde (UCLA), and David Radcliffe and Dr. Darrick Hamilton (New School). The research unites researchers, policymakers, and community partners to examine how guaranteed capital at birth can reduce economic and health inequities, foster intergenerational wealth, and promote overall well-being.

• Evaluate economic and health outcomes associated with Connecticut’s Baby Bonds program.
• Understand family experiences with wealth-building and financial opportunity through qualitative interviews.
• Examine the relationship between wealth and health, identifying pathways that link economic security to mental and physical well-being.
• Inform policy and practice by translating findings into actionable recommendations for equitable wealth-building initiatives nationwide.

• Grounded in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, the Connecticut Baby Bonds Research Study centers the voices of Connecticut families. A Community Advisory Board (CAB) composed of local leaders and a Parent Advisory Board composed of eligible parents participating in the study, guide each phase of the research process. We use qualitative methods, including individual interviews and focus groups with both eligible and ineligible families, to understand their perspectives on CT Baby Bonds.

• Wealth as a Social Determinant of Health
• Intergenerational Economic Justice
• Community Voice in Policy Research
• Equitable Policy Implementation

To date, we have spoken with families across the state, ensuring that we hear a diverse range of perspectives. We have focused our attention on areas where there are particularly high numbers of Medicaid-eligible families but have also made sure to interview people from areas with lower Medicaid coverage.