Rx Kids is working to alleviate the economic, social and personal challenges that often come during the time of pregnancy and infancy for families.
As the United States’ first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program, it has had an immensely positive impact on Michigan communities. Inspired by trends of shrinking incomes and rising poverty during pregnancy and the child’s first year, Rx Kids provides cash prescriptions through GiveDirectly to help fund families’ needs, such as food, housing and health.
“When I heard that we’d been asked to design a program for moms and babies, the wheels in my mind immediately started to turn,” said Ash Taylor-Beirel, the lead program manager for Rx Kids. “Pregnancy and parenthood is a really vulnerable time for lots of people – my daughter had just turned two at the time, so my own personal struggles with navigating that life transition was a really fresh memory! Becoming a mom also made me feel a sort of automatic sisterhood with every other new mom. In my opinion, I’m not helping strangers. Every single recipient is my sister, and I want to make sure they’re taken care of.”
Rx Kids was initiated in Flint by Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and director of the Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in response to the Flint Water Crisis, where it displayed considerable success. For example, moms were less likely to experience poor mental health, such as symptoms of postpartum depression; families were more likely to pay their rent and mortgage in full every month, and no low-income Rx Kids moms were evicted.
Due to these eminent results, Rx Kids has begun expanding to many more cities, with the company currently present in Kalamazoo, the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Pontiac.
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As of now, the city of Ypsilanti works to implement the Rx Kids program to ensure the safety and health of all mothers and infants in its community. Katie Jones, the community, economic development and equity manager for Ypsilanti, is passionate about the potential impact that Rx Kids will have on the city.
“Since I began working for the city, we have worked on so many downstream consequences of poverty, such as housing and homelessness, addiction, incarceration rates, education and workforce readiness,” Jones said. “As I heard that the program was expanding to other cities, I was extremely excited because this program addresses a root cause of poverty. If we can help moms have the stability to raise their babies without stress and worry, they can focus on the work of nurturing their babies and caring for themselves in a stable environment.”
Although Ypsilanti is still in the early stages of establishing their own Rx Kids program, the city has seen lots of success in obtaining funding for the program. The necessary $1.2 million to launch the program seems daunting; however, over the next two years City Council has committed $100,000 towards the program, in addition to the $25,000 committed by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority this year.
“We have approximately 200 babies born within the City of Ypsilanti each year, and compared to many larger communities, this is a relatively small number to support,” Jones predicts optimistically. “I know we can do it!”
For more information on Rx Kids or to contribute to their mission, please visit rxkids.org. With continued efforts and support, Rx Kids can help many communities battle poverty one family at a time.
“Let your representatives know how much you want this program in your community so that they can help us grow Rx Kids to even more communities,” Taylor-Beirel said. “And if you know of a community based organization that aligns with the mission, you can share our contact information with them and let them know we’re looking for additional support and local champions.”
