Through an initiative recently introduced to Appalachia, expectant mothers struggling to break free of generational poverty are getting a hand up rather than a hand out.

Since Jan. 8 when the Bridge Project first announced about Appalachian eligibility in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia about the expansion of its successful cash transfer program, program director Laura Clancy said the interest has been unprecented.

Through minimal social media coverage, she said more than 700 families already have applied for the program with around 200 already potentially eligible for the 500 spots. Through the Bridge Project, babies can qualify for crucial financial support during pregnancy and early childhood in this new year.

Initial payments are set to begin for babies five months into the pregnancy effective April 1, 2025, explained Clancy.

The family-oriented Monarch Foundation in New York City started the project there when the pandemic demonstrated the hardship for families to garner immediate help with rent, utility and child care assistance.

Through the Bridge Project, mothers’ financial burdens are relieved, as they receive monetary assistance during the first three years of their baby’s young life.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria to: be age 18 or older; be 23 weeks or fewer in their pregnancy; reside anywhere within the acceptable Appalachian Regional Commission’s boundaries, which includes Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull County in Ohio and all of West Virginia; and have an annual household income of $44,000 or less.

Columbiana, Mahoning in Ohio as well as Hancock in WV are described as Transitional by the ARC, which has them fluctuating between strong and week economies, while Trumbull is a level more economically distressed.

To assure qualification, Clancy said applicants go through a stringent verification process, which includes either a doctor’s note citing how far along a candidate is in her pregnancy or documentation from an online health app such as MyChart.

By large, she adds, moms use the money appropriately. With it being dispensed by either direct deposit or on a prepaid debit card, her concern is more of them falling victims to scammers.

“This expansion is a big step toward our goal of helping families make the difficult escape out of the cycle of poverty,” Clancy continued. “By providing direct financial support, we give mothers the resources they need to make the best decisions for their children, setting the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.”

In addition to the 500 mothers who will be selected within the Appalachia region for the cash portion of the program to receive an initial prenatal stipend of $1,125 when they reach 5 months in their pregnancy, or program participants also will receive 15 monthly stipends of $750 followed by another 21 monthly stipends of $375 until the child is age 3.

Applications can be found and completed at www.bridgeproject.org/apply before April 1, 2025.

Applications are reviewed for eligibility with submissions possible until all the slots have been filled. Then program participants are selected by lottery.

The unrestricted cash assistance allows mothers to spend on essentials like food, rent or childcare without restrictions, entrusting them to know what is best for their families.

As Clancy explained, “Decades or research show how important the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are in setting a foundation for the rest of life. The Bridge Project aims to prevent harm, providing support early to set up success,” –potentially breaking intergenerational cycles that often handcuff families’ ability to thrive.

In addition to these 500 recipients being part of the Bridge Project’s study, which examines the impact of direct cash or maternal and infant health, an additional “low cash” participant group of 750 mothers also will be included and compensated for completing research surveys and interviews.

Clancy added, “We want to try and compare the low cash group to the cash moms in the hopes of building a case for policy changes. We want to demonstrate how much the stress relief from the cash is important and helping to build a profound attachment between mother and child.”

In 2024, which was the program’s initial year elsewhere, nearly 2,000 babies were part of the program. Stats show that 63 percent of the mothers living in traditional shelter secured stable housing and were able to access child care. The cash resulted in improved food security with 53 percent benefiting among applicants.