A year ago, Rx Kids, an innovative “cash prescription” program, launched in Flint. The program provides parents with a one-time payment of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for the first year after birth. All pregnant persons in the city of Flint are eligible to enroll regardless of income, creating a straightforward program design that minimizes bureaucracy for both participants and administrators.
The early successes of Rx Kids in strengthening family well-being have paved the way for its upcoming expansion in Kalamazoo next month. This is funded in part by $1.4 million annually from the $20 million allocated for the statewide program expansion from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, along with local government and philanthropic sources. The overall goals of the program are to improve infant and maternal health, as well as economic well-being.
Rx Kids offers immediate financial support to families that helps pay for essentials such as rent, transportation, and baby supplies. These unconditional cash payments provided by RxKids are helpful in supplementing other benefits received by low-income families and improving their economic situation during a time when household budgets are particularly tight. However, programs such as this work more effectively when they are combined with additional policies to promote individual and community prosperity.
Kathleen Bolter is program manager for Policies for Place at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo…