A Unified Support Navigator: Evaluating Integrated Care for Marginalized Families

Last registered on January 10, 2025

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
A Unified Support Navigator: Evaluating Integrated Care for Marginalized Families
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015133
Initial registration date
January 08, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
January 10, 2025, 1:40 PM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Aarhus University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Aarhus University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2019-06-01
End date
2027-06-30
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study evaluates the impact of "Opgang-til-Opgang," a municipal program designed to support welfare-dependent families through integrated social care. The intervention assigns each participating family a team of two dedicated social workers who assist in navigating the often-complex interactions with multiple caseworkers and government authorities within the modern welfare system. By offering a single point of contact and personalized guidance, the program seeks to reduce administrative burdens for the families and improve their overall well-being.

The program is being evaluated using a randomized allocation of eligible families within a local government jurisdiction, allowing for direct comparison between participants and non-participants. The study focuses on three primary outcomes: (1) changes in welfare receipt, (2) improvements in employment for adults and youths in the household, and (3) reductions in risky behaviors among children. This research is intended to provide new insights into the potential of integrated social care to address systemic challenges faced by vulnerable families in the welfare system.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Simonsen, Marianne and Lars Skipper. 2025. "A Unified Support Navigator: Evaluating Integrated Care for Marginalized Families." AEA RCT Registry. January 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15133-1.0
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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The "Opgang-til-Opgang" program is a municipal initiative designed to provide integrated social care to families receiving welfare benefits. The intervention assigns each participating family a team of two designated social workers who act as a central point of contact for navigating the welfare system. This social workers provide personalized guidance and support to reduce the administrative burden and complexity families often face when interacting with multiple caseworkers and government agencies.

The program is designed to last for up to four years, recognizing that meaningful changes in outcomes often require sustained support over time. This long-term engagement allows social workers to build trust with families, address complex and evolving needs, and facilitate gradual transitions toward self-sufficiency.

The intervention focuses on streamlining communication, fostering collaboration across social services, and empowering families to access the resources and opportunities available to them more effectively. Social workers are trained to provide tailored assistance based on the unique needs of each family, addressing issues such as financial management, employment readiness, and child well-being.
Intervention Start Date
2019-09-01
Intervention End Date
2023-06-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Welfare receipt, employment for adults and youths in the household, and risky behaviors among children
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Welfare receipt includes all kinds of public assistance, including housing allowances, cash benefits, and disability. Employment is measured as hours worked. Risky behaviors are measured as school absence and crime.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Health care utilization (primary and secondary sectors), school grades, and child wellbeing
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Child wellbeing is measured using yearly surveys administered nationally to all children enrolled in public schools

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The study employs a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the "Opgang-til-Opgang" program. Families were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria: residing in specific urban areas, having children under the age of 18, and demonstrating dependency on welfare benefits under the Danish Social Assistance Act.

To ensure balance across key characteristics, families were stratified into three distinct groups before randomization, based on geographical location and the duration of welfare dependency:
Stratum 1: Families residing in Gellerup or Toveshøj, regardless of welfare dependency duration.
Stratum 2: Families from Gellerup, Toveshøj, or Skovgårdsparken with welfare dependency lasting between one and five years.
Stratum 3: Families from Gellerup, Toveshøj, or Skovgårdsparken with at least one member receiving welfare benefits continuously for five years or more.

Within each stratum, families were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received the "Opgang-til-Opgang" program, or the control group. Both groups continued with standard municipal services.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization was performed in an office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Household
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
223 families
Sample size: planned number of observations
About 1000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
132 families were offered the treatment and 91 families were in the control arm
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number