FLINT, Michigan — As Rx Kids celebrates its first anniversary, the groundbreaking program has already made strides in improving financial security and health outcomes for participating families. Launched as the nation’s first citywide cash prescription program for pregnant women and babies, Rx Kids now looks to build on its success with plans for expansion across Michigan and beyond.
“This program was always envisioned to be universal, unconditional, groundbreaking, and love-filled,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids Director, pediatrician, and director of Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative. “What’s shocking is that it worked so seamlessly, with nearly every baby born in Flint enrolled – something unprecedented in similar programs.”
Rx Kids provides a $1,500 cash prescription to pregnant women and $500 a month during the baby’s first year. The program is designed to combat the financial pressures of raising a child by helping families afford necessities like housing, transportation, and healthcare. “Families are poorest around the birth of a child,” explained Dr. Hanna. “This program helps address that pressing affordability crisis, giving parents the freedom and autonomy to spend the money as they see fit.”
“This isn’t just an intervention for one family or a handful of people,” Dr. Hanna continued. “It’s a place-based solution that lifts entire communities, reducing evictions, improving healthcare access, and creating stability during a critical time in families’ lives.”
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Jenifer VelosoMom and baby at the Rx Kids Baby Parade 2024.Participants like Alana Turner have shared how the program has provided them with financial stability and peace of mind. “Rx Kids has given me the confidence to provide for my children even during tough times,” said Turner.
Dr. Hanna highlighted the transformative stories she has heard from families: “Parents tell us they can breathe easier, spend more time with their babies, and even return to school or work. It’s not just data; it’s real lives being changed.”
While Rx Kids has enjoyed success, its journey was not without obstacles. “At first, many families thought it was too good to be true — a scam,” Dr. Hanna explained. “For so long, families in Flint felt like they were born at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Now, this program shows them they’re part of something historic.”
Through word of mouth and community trust, the program achieved a nearly universal enrollment rate within months of launching.
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Courtesy photoMom and children at Rx Kids community-wide Valentine’s Day celebration 2024.Rx Kids has not only improved maternal and infant well-being but has also shown a path forward for addressing child poverty nationwide. “Infant poverty is a pathogen,” said Dr. Hanna. “This program addresses critical affordability issues when families need it most, reducing evictions, improving healthcare access, and fostering stability.”
The program’s potential as a national model is gaining traction. Next month, Rx Kids will launch in Kalamazoo, with plans to expand to the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Southeast Michigan later this year.
The success of Rx Kids is rooted in its innovative funding model. “This is a beautiful partnership between public and private sectors, leveraging philanthropic contributions alongside state and federal funds,” Dr. Hanna explained. “It’s efficient, effective, and easy to replicate.”
As Rx Kids enters its second year, its impact continues to grow. “Flint is leading the nation here,” said Dr. Hanna. “This is a point of pride, showing how a city once seen as failing its children can become a beacon of hope and progress.”
To learn more about the Rx Kids program, visit: flintrxkids.com or call (844) 382-8447.
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