Adverse Childhood ExperiencesNCT04961177
Increasing Use of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in New Mexico
A study testing EITC & ACEs Training, EITC Outreach & Screening and Assistance with EITC in people with Adverse Childhood Experiences, run by University of New Mexico at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Purpose of the Proposed Project. The literature makes clear that poverty and financial hardship and lack of social support are significant risk factors that create a household environment conducive to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- What is being tested?
- EITC & ACEs Training, EITC Outreach & Screening and Assistance with EITC
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 91 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Sep 2020to 29 Sep 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adult, 18 or over
- Speak English or Spanish
- Work as a frontline health worker or staff at one of our partner agencies who takes our training
- Be a client of one of the frontline health workers of our partner agencies who qualifies for EITC who has not submitted an EITC claim in the past 12 months and is interested in receiving assistance to submit an EITC claim through our project
Who cannot join
- Children --individuals younger than 18
- Fetuses
- Individuals unable to provide consent
- Individuals who are incarcerated
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131
About this study
Purpose of the Proposed Project. The literature makes clear that poverty and financial hardship and lack of social support are significant risk factors that create a household environment conducive to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The purpose of the project is to reduce ACEs-related risk factors that threaten child wellbeing in the homes of low-income families by maximizing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims among populations of focus in Bernalillo County, and disseminating successful strategies for risk-reduction throughout the state. The project team will do this by integrating outreach and education regarding ACEs and EITC benefits across a group of community-based initiatives, training programs, networks, and collaborators that work with frontline health workers [Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Medical Assistants (MAs)].
Read the detailed description
Goal. The goal of this project is to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for ACEs by measurably reducing household financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability, and increasing social support for low-income populations of focus in Bernalillo County (with an emphasis on designated Economic Opportunity Zones (EOZs) as required by the award) by increasing EITC utilization. The team will accomplish this using an innovative strategy to mobilize frontline health workers to conduct EITC outreach, education, referral, and support across our robust community-based initiatives, collaborations, networks, and training programs, and to disseminate this model for increasing EITC utilization.
Objectives. This project has three objectives.
- Objective 1. By Y1, M12, increase capacity for EITC outreach and education among 28 core, established, multi-sectoral partner agencies by engaging them in the planning, design, and implementation to 56 trainings for frontline health workers and staff as measured by: A.) Improvement in scores on a pre/post test administered to 65 frontline health workers and 25 partner agency staff before and after the training regarding knowledge and understanding of ACEs-related risk and protective factors and EITC benefits, eligibility, logistics, and referral. B.) Documented increase in the number of times agency frontline health workers and staff use existing EITC materials from national EITC campaigns or the Internal Revenue Service website or start to use the tools following the training.
- Objective 2. By Y3, M6, increase EITC utilization in Bernalillo County by a minimum of 5200 new EITC filed claims during the project implementation period by tax filers who have not previously filed for EITC in the past 12 months by mobilizing our partners and their 65 CHWs to conduct EITC education, outreach, screening and referral for free tax preparation assistance (65 CHWs x 10 clients per quarter x 2 years), and co-sponsorship of a minimum of 48 community outreach events reaching a minimum of 480 potential EITC filers (48 events x 10 filers).
- Objective 3. By Y3, M12, using a rigorous evaluation of project activities and outcomes, demonstrate a statistically significant change in ACEs risk/protective factors between baseline and four months among a cohort of 200 EITC filers in order to demonstrate evidence that mobilizing community agencies and frontline health workers is a strong model for increasing EITC utilization: A.) Demonstrate a decrease in household financial strain, financial insecurity, and household economic instability as measured by a change in mean score of at least 0.77 on the In Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-being Scale (IFDFW). B.) Demonstrate an increase in informational social support as measured by the informational support questions from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS).
Outcome and Impact. The outcome of this project will be to create a cadre of trained frontline health workers and community agencies with the knowledge and capacity to provide EITC outreach, information, screening, and referrals to low-income clients to increase utilization of EITC in New Mexico. The anticipated impact of this effort will be that more New Mexicans will file EITC claims and the funds they receive will help to ameliorate the stress of financial hardship and reduce poverty. Furthermore, the experience of working with the frontline health worker will increase social support and utilization of EITC, both of which will reduce negative social determinants of health and risk factors for ACEs and increase preventive factors for ACEs of children who live in some of the most at-risk homes, improving the wellbeing of these children today and creating a foundation for them to have healthier lives as adults.
- Conditions
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Being tested
- EITC & ACEs Training, EITC Outreach & Screening, Assistance with EITC
- Keywords
- EITC, Poverty, ACEs, Frontline Health Workers, Community Health Workers (CHWs)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
EITC & ACEs TrainingOther
We will deliver up to 56 trainings to 65 frontline health workers and 25 staff of our partner organizations. The training will include: 1.) Information about what ACEs are, and the risk and protective factors associated with ACEs and 2.) Information regarding EITC benefits, eligibility, application procedure and logistics, referrals for free tax preparation assistance, and use of EITC tools., and 3.) frontline health workers will receive additional training in protocols for reporting to support Objective #2.
EITC Outreach & ScreeningOther
Our partners will screen and refer a minimum of 5200 clients (65 CHWs x 10 clients per quarter x 2 years) for EITC. Our evaluation team will track the number of individuals screened, the number found to be eligible/not eligible, the number referred out and to which free tax prep service, and if available, the number who use the free tax prep service, the number who file a tax claim for EITC, the number who receive EITC benefits, and the amount of the benefit.
We will conduct community-level EIT outreach by integrating EITC outreach and education into planned community events in the neighborhoods and service areas of our partners. The events will provide information about the EITC to the public. We will have a minimum of 48 events to reach a minimum of 480 potential filers (48 events x 10 participants each).
Assistance with EITCOther
We will conduct a statistical analysis of the impact of EITC funds on ACEs risk and protective factors in the lives of EITC benefit recipients. Project CHW team members will invite 200 clients who qualify to receive EITC benefits to participate in the study using an approved recruitment script. With those who agree to participate, the CHW team member will obtain consent and administer a baseline survey. A post-survey will be administered at 4 months.
In addition, we will gather qualitative data to help us understand impacts of this project. The post-survey will contain an open/qualitative response question asking participants to describe how the EITC benefit impacted them, how they felt when they received it, how important it was, and what they did with the funds. In Y2, the Research Team will conduct interviews with a subset of 20 clients who participated in the pre/post survey.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EITC & ACEs Training | Other | Trainings for frontline health workers about EITC and ACEs. Receives: Other: EITC & ACEs Training |
| EITC Outreach and Screening | Other | Our partners will implement EITC outreach events and EITC screening with clients. Receives: Other: EITC Outreach & Screening |
| EITC Assistance | Other | Our partners will screen clients for EITC and refer those who qualify for free tax preparation assistance and assistance submitting their tax returns. Receives: Other: Assistance with EITC |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
A: Financial strain and insecurity.
We will measure change in financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability among clients who are at high risk for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and who submit an EITC claim as a result of assistance from this project. Financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability will be measured as demonstrated by a minimum of a 0.77 point change on the In Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-being Scale (IFDFW), with an expected change of 1.5 - 2 points.
Measured: 4 months
B: Informational Social Support
We will measure change in informational support that occurs as a result of frontline health workers providing outreach, education, and screening for EITC, and referral for free tax help. We will measure change in informational support using the MOS-SSS Informational Support subscale. We hypothesize a minimum change of 1.5 points.
Measured: 4 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jul 2021
- Study start29 Sep 2020
- Primary completion29 Aug 2023
- Study completion29 Sep 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Adverse Childhood ExperiencesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Model description
- The proposed intervention will have five components: 1. We will conduct trainings for our partner agencies and their frontline health workers to increase knowledge and understanding of: 1.) Risk/protective factors for ACEs and 2.) Eligibility criteria and filing requirements and procedures for EITC. 2. Working with our partners, we will also conduct EITC educational outreach and information sessions targeted to potential EITC filers. 3. We will track program level EITC data regarding screening and assistance provided to clients by CHWs in our network and the number of clients who submit EITC claims and the amounts received. 4. We will conduct a pre/post survey with clients who submit EITC claims to determine whether EITC reduces risk factors and increases protective factors for ACEs. 5. We will disseminate this model throughout the state.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 91 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of New Mexico
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Janet M Page-Reeves, University of New Mexico
- Investigators
- Janet Page-Reeves, PhD, Principal investigator, University of New Mexico
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04961177
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21-123
- Status last verified
- May 2024
- First submitted
- 22 Jun 2021
- Last updated
- 8 May 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 May 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Increasing Use of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in New Mexico
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04961177
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21-123
- Conditions
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Keywords
- EITC, Poverty, ACEs, Frontline Health Workers, Community Health Workers (CHWs)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 91 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of New MexicoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 29 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Sep 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Jul 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Purpose of the Proposed Project. The literature makes clear that poverty and financial hardship and lack of social support are significant risk factors that create a household environment conducive to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The purpose of the project is to reduce ACEs-related risk factors that threaten child wellbeing in the homes of low-income families by maximizing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims among populations of focus in Bernalillo County, and disseminating successful strategies for risk-reduction throughout the state. The project team will do this by integrating outreach and education regarding ACEs and EITC benefits across a group of community-based initiatives, training programs, networks, and collaborators that work with frontline health workers [Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Medical Assistants (MAs)].
Detailed description
Goal. The goal of this project is to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for ACEs by measurably reducing household financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability, and increasing social support for low-income populations of focus in Bernalillo County (with an emphasis on designated Economic Opportunity Zones (EOZs) as required by the award) by increasing EITC utilization. The team will accomplish this using an innovative strategy to mobilize frontline health workers to conduct EITC outreach, education, referral, and support across our robust community-based initiatives, collaborations, networks, and training programs, and to disseminate this model for increasing EITC utilization.
Objectives. This project has three objectives.
- Objective 1. By Y1, M12, increase capacity for EITC outreach and education among 28 core, established, multi-sectoral partner agencies by engaging them in the planning, design, and implementation to 56 trainings for frontline health workers and staff as measured by: A.) Improvement in scores on a pre/post test administered to 65 frontline health workers and 25 partner agency staff before and after the training regarding knowledge and understanding of ACEs-related risk and protective factors and EITC benefits, eligibility, logistics, and referral. B.) Documented increase in the number of times agency frontline health workers and staff use existing EITC materials from national EITC campaigns or the Internal Revenue Service website or start to use the tools following the training.
- Objective 2. By Y3, M6, increase EITC utilization in Bernalillo County by a minimum of 5200 new EITC filed claims during the project implementation period by tax filers who have not previously filed for EITC in the past 12 months by mobilizing our partners and their 65 CHWs to conduct EITC education, outreach, screening and referral for free tax preparation assistance (65 CHWs x 10 clients per quarter x 2 years), and co-sponsorship of a minimum of 48 community outreach events reaching a minimum of 480 potential EITC filers (48 events x 10 filers).
- Objective 3. By Y3, M12, using a rigorous evaluation of project activities and outcomes, demonstrate a statistically significant change in ACEs risk/protective factors between baseline and four months among a cohort of 200 EITC filers in order to demonstrate evidence that mobilizing community agencies and frontline health workers is a strong model for increasing EITC utilization: A.) Demonstrate a decrease in household financial strain, financial insecurity, and household economic instability as measured by a change in mean score of at least 0.77 on the In Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-being Scale (IFDFW). B.) Demonstrate an increase in informational social support as measured by the informational support questions from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS).
Outcome and Impact. The outcome of this project will be to create a cadre of trained frontline health workers and community agencies with the knowledge and capacity to provide EITC outreach, information, screening, and referrals to low-income clients to increase utilization of EITC in New Mexico. The anticipated impact of this effort will be that more New Mexicans will file EITC claims and the funds they receive will help to ameliorate the stress of financial hardship and reduce poverty. Furthermore, the experience of working with the frontline health worker will increase social support and utilization of EITC, both of which will reduce negative social determinants of health and risk factors for ACEs and increase preventive factors for ACEs of children who live in some of the most at-risk homes, improving the wellbeing of these children today and creating a foundation for them to have healthier lives as adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- The proposed intervention will have five components: 1. We will conduct trainings for our partner agencies and their frontline health workers to increase knowledge and understanding of: 1.) Risk/protective factors for ACEs and 2.) Eligibility criteria and filing requirements and procedures for EITC. 2. Working with our partners, we will also conduct EITC educational outreach and information sessions targeted to potential EITC filers. 3. We will track program level EITC data regarding screening and assistance provided to clients by CHWs in our network and the number of clients who submit EITC claims and the amounts received. 4. We will conduct a pre/post survey with clients who submit EITC claims to determine whether EITC reduces risk factors and increases protective factors for ACEs. 5. We will disseminate this model throughout the state.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EITC & ACEs Training | Other | Other: EITC & ACEs TrainingTrainings for frontline health workers about EITC and ACEs. |
| EITC Outreach and Screening | Other | Other: EITC Outreach & ScreeningOur partners will implement EITC outreach events and EITC screening with clients. |
| EITC Assistance | Other | Other: Assistance with EITCOur partners will screen clients for EITC and refer those who qualify for free tax preparation assistance and assistance submitting their tax returns. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adult, 18 or over
- Speak English or Spanish
- Work as a frontline health worker or staff at one of our partner agencies who takes our training
- Be a client of one of the frontline health workers of our partner agencies who qualifies for EITC who has not submitted an EITC claim in the past 12 months and is interested in receiving assistance to submit an EITC claim through our project
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children --individuals younger than 18
- Fetuses
- Individuals unable to provide consent
- Individuals who are incarcerated
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| EITC & ACEs TrainingWe will deliver up to 56 trainings to 65 frontline health workers and 25 staff of our partner organizations. The training will include: 1.) Information about what ACEs are, and the risk and protective factors associated with ACEs and 2.) Information regarding EITC benefits, eligibility, application procedure and logistics, referrals for free tax preparation assistance, and use of EITC tools., and 3.) frontline health workers will receive additional training in protocols for reporting to support Objective #2. | Other | EITC & ACEs Training |
| EITC Outreach & ScreeningOur partners will screen and refer a minimum of 5200 clients (65 CHWs x 10 clients per quarter x 2 years) for EITC. Our evaluation team will track the number of individuals screened, the number found to be eligible/not eligible, the number referred out and to which free tax prep service, and if available, the number who use the free tax prep service, the number who file a tax claim for EITC, the number who receive EITC benefits, and the amount of the benefit. We will conduct community-level EIT outreach by integrating EITC outreach and education into planned community events in the neighborhoods and service areas of our partners. The events will provide information about the EITC to the public. We will have a minimum of 48 events to reach a minimum of 480 potential filers (48 events x 10 participants each). | Other | EITC Outreach and Screening |
| Assistance with EITCWe will conduct a statistical analysis of the impact of EITC funds on ACEs risk and protective factors in the lives of EITC benefit recipients. Project CHW team members will invite 200 clients who qualify to receive EITC benefits to participate in the study using an approved recruitment script. With those who agree to participate, the CHW team member will obtain consent and administer a baseline survey. A post-survey will be administered at 4 months. In addition, we will gather qualitative data to help us understand impacts of this project. The post-survey will contain an open/qualitative response question asking participants to describe how the EITC benefit impacted them, how they felt when they received it, how important it was, and what they did with the funds. In Y2, the Research Team will conduct interviews with a subset of 20 clients who participated in the pre/post survey. | Other | EITC Assistance |
Primary outcome
A: Financial strain and insecurity.
Time frame: 4 months
We will measure change in financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability among clients who are at high risk for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and who submit an EITC claim as a result of assistance from this project. Financial strain, financial insecurity, and economic instability will be measured as demonstrated by a minimum of a 0.77 point change on the In Charge Financial Distress/Financial Well-being Scale (IFDFW), with an expected change of 1.5 - 2 points.
B: Informational Social Support
Time frame: 4 months
We will measure change in informational support that occurs as a result of frontline health workers providing outreach, education, and screening for EITC, and referral for free tax help. We will measure change in informational support using the MOS-SSS Informational Support subscale. We hypothesize a minimum change of 1.5 points.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 May 2024.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Adverse Childhood Experiences
Not yet recruiting
Preventive and Personalized Digital Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Youths With Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experience, Depression / Major Depressive Disorder
Recruiting
A Pilot Study to Examine the Efficacy of Internet-Delivered Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (i-STAIR) for Individuals With Adverse Childhood Experiences and Subsyndromal Depression
Subthreshold Depression
Active, not recruiting
Resilient Students Training (ReST) : A Pilot RCT
Psychological Wellness
Not yet recruiting
EMI for Reducing Psychological Distress in Young Adults With Multiple ACEs: A RCT Study
Psychological Distress, Adverse Childhood Experience
Not yet recruiting
EMI for Reducing Psychological Distress in Young Adults With Multiple ACEs: A Feasibility Study
Psychological Distress, Adverse Childhood Experience
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Janet Page-Reeves, PhD principal investigator
University of New Mexico
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing EITC & ACEs Training, EITC Outreach & Screening and Assistance with EITC in people with Adverse Childhood Experiences, run by University of New Mexico at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
A: Financial strain and insecurity. (time frame: 4 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2024.