NYC anti-poverty plan that pays for good behavior has mixed results in first analysis

NYC pays poor for good conduct, with mixed results

NEW YORK — An experimental anti-poverty program that pays poor New Yorkers for good behavior like getting health insurance and attending parent-teacher conferences has had mixed results.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s pilot program began in 2007 and the first analysis was released Tuesday.

In two years, 2,400 participating families were paid a total of $14 million raised from private donations. Payments averaged about $3,000 a year per family.

The city said participants improved on several targets. More people established bank accounts, stopped using costly check cashing services, and saw the dentist.

But the rewards had no effect on school performance and attendance for young children or low-performing high schoolers.

The idea was modeled on efforts in other countries.