Payments for Parenting?? You Gotta Read This One...WTF?

Three years ago, New York City's Center for Economic Opportunity launched "Opportunity NYC Family Rewards," an experimental, privately funded conditional cash transfer program to help low-income families break the cycle of poverty.

• According to a report, the program had decreased poverty levels by 11 percentage points. However, other specific objectives of the program (school attendance, housing, test scores, health coverage) did not include the same proven percentages.
• Some argue the program offers rewards for doing things parents should already be doing, like being employed, ensuring their child goes to school, taking them to the doctor and going to parent-teacher conferences.

Source: Essence.com

YOUR THOUGHTS:

Do you think programs like these are helpful?

• Does it matter so much why parents are doing the right things for their kids as much as getting it done?
• In what other situations might monetary compensation be used to better the community?