The Bridge Project is currently enrolling pregnant women in parts of Appalachia for a cash assistance and research program that spans Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Up to 1,250 participants will take part, but there’s an important detail to understand before applying: participants are randomly assigned to either a high-cash group or a low-cash group, and the amount of money they receive depends on which group they’re assigned to.
What the Bridge Project Offers
The Bridge Project’s Appalachia initiative includes two groups.
The high-cash group follows the Bridge Project’s larger cash assistance structure:
- $1,125 one-time prenatal stipend
- $750 per month for the first 15 months
- $375 per month for the following 21 months
That adds up to $20,250.
However, not everyone who joins the Appalachia program receives that amount.
The original program design included 500 participants in the high-cash group and 750 participants in a low-cash comparison group.
The Bridge Project’s current application page says up to 1,250 participants will be randomly assigned to either a high-cash or low-cash group. Both groups receive cash payments and participate in an 18-month research study, but the current application page does not specify the payment amount for the low-cash group.
That means applicants should not assume they’ll receive $20,250 if they’re selected for the Appalachia program.
The Bridge Project currently reports $10.1 million committed to its Appalachia initiative.
Who Qualifies
According to the current application requirements, you must:
- Live in an Appalachian Regional Commission-designated county in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee or West Virginia
- Be 18 years old or older
- Be 14 weeks pregnant or less
- Submit qualifying proof of pregnancy
Your pregnancy documentation must include:
- Your name
- The clinic’s name, location and contact information
- The date of your visit to the medical provider
- Your expected due date
The Bridge Project provides a letter applicants can share with their healthcare provider to help make sure the required information is included.
If you’re not sure whether you live in an eligible area, you can check the Appalachian Regional Commission’s county map.
Earlier materials for the Appalachia program also included an annual household income limit of less than $44,000. However, that requirement is no longer listed among the eligibility requirements on the Bridge Project’s current application page, so applicants should follow the current requirements shown when they apply.
How to Apply
The Bridge Project is currently enrolling applicants in Appalachia.
You can apply through the Bridge Project application page.
Applicants who join the program are randomly assigned to either the high-cash or low-cash group. Both groups receive cash payments and participate in the program’s 18-month research study.
Because the amount of assistance differs between the two groups, applicants should carefully review the current program information before enrolling.
Watch Out for Scams
The Bridge Project warns that it will never ask for your Social Security number or ask you to provide bank information through a text message or email.
If you receive a message and aren’t sure whether it’s legitimate, you can contact info@bridgeproject.org to verify it.
Relief Recap
The Bridge Project is currently enrolling pregnant women in eligible Appalachian counties in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Up to 1,250 participants can take part in the research program, with participants randomly assigned to either a high-cash or low-cash group.
The high-cash program provides $20,250, including a $1,125 prenatal stipend followed by monthly payments. The low-cash group also receives payments, but the current application page does not publicly specify the amount.
To apply, you must be at least 18, live in an eligible ARC-designated county, be no more than 14 weeks pregnant and provide the required pregnancy documentation.
If you’re pregnant and looking for other financial assistance, our hardship grants roundup has more programs worth checking.
