RX KIDS: CASH ALLOWANCE PROGRAM
in partnership with Michigan State University
Send cash to moms and babies in Michigan
More than 18% of Michigan children are growing up in poverty – that’s over 370,000 children.
We can break this cycle and invest in the next generation by giving families what they truly need: cash. Together, our impact can help transform the way we support families in poverty across the country.
We are expanding Rx Kids to additional communities in Michigan.
Inspired by the resounding success of Rx Kids in Flint and with the support of local and national champions, we are expanding the program to help more families. The program’s expansion will continue its goal of improving outcomes, reducing racial and geographic inequities, and boosting local economies.
While funds raised prior to August 27, 2024 are directed solely to enrolled families living in Flint, funds raised on or after this date may be allocated, at the discretion of GiveDirectly, to any of the participating Rx Kids communities.
You can help close our funding gap to reach every new mom and baby in Michigan communities for the next 5 years.
Every year, around 7,000 children are born in Michigan into families facing food insecurity and unequal access to healthcare. These first months of life are critical for a baby’s development; it’s also when their families are struggling the most.
Together, we can deliver up to $7,500 to the mother of every single infant born in participating communities – with no strings attached.
- Every mom will receive $1,500 during their pregnancy to spend on food, prenatal care, rent, or whatever they need most.
- After giving birth, moms will receive $500/month for up to 12 months to cover formula, diapers, childcare, and everything else.
Rx Kids is tackling the leading social determinant of health: poverty. Join hundreds of other donors helping catalyze community-wide change in Michigan and beyond.
Interested in enrolling to receive funds?
Cash is proven to work – especially in the hands of new moms.
Hundreds of studies show that unconditional cash transfers can be life-changing across countries and contexts. Mothers and babies are no different, and early intervention is shown to have sustained health and development impacts years after cash is delivered.
- Healthier pregnancies: Multiple studies have found positive impacts of cash on birth weight, premature births, and breastfeeding, parental mental health, and food security.
- Improved early development: New research shows that $333 monthly cash transfers to low-income families boosted infants’ early cognitive development.
- Impact lasts into adulthood: Years after their moms received cash transfers, adult children experienced benefits across health, education, and nutrition, lifetime earnings, and reduced anxiety and depression.
We plan to measure impacts at the individual and community level, including on maternal and infant health, local employment and investment, and more.
Let’s reimagine how society supports families and children.
We know cash works for families in need – the Expanded Child Tax Credit helped keep 3.7M children out of poverty. Yet, Congress failed to renew the credit and other direct cash assistance programs only reach 21% of eligible families in need.
The Rx Kids expansion boldly reimagines how we care for each other by walking alongside families during the challenging time of pregnancy and infancy.
Michigan is just the beginning. If we can demonstrate the power of cash allowance to address profound economic and health inequities in the state’s highest poverty communities, we can spark a national movement to shift more resources directly to families and ensure every baby has the opportunity to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which communities are participating in the program?
These are the communities that are enrolling now or will soon be enrolling eligible families:
- Flint
- Kalamanzoo
We will update the list as communities lock in their enrollment dates.
Who is eligible to receive funds? Can I enroll?
All expectant mothers in participating communities who are 20+ weeks pregnant are eligible to enroll, as well as all infants up to 6 months old.
If you’re interested in enrolling to receive funds, complete this form.
How much money will mothers receive?
Up to $7,500. This includes one-time, $1,500 transfers upon enrollment during pregnancy, followed by up to 12 monthly payments of $500 during their infant’s first year of life.
Communities can implement Rx Kids as a perinatal program (up to 3 months of cash payments) or the full postnatal program (up to 12 months of cash payments).
Can dads or non-birthing parents receive payments?
Only birthing parents can receive the prenatal payment, as it’s intended to support development in utero. Infant payments are intended to follow the child, so if a birthing parent is not the baby’s primary caregiver, the primary caregiver, including fathers, adoptive and foster parents, and other non-birthing parents, can sign up for the program.
When will people receive the money?
We began enrolling and paying mothers in Flint in 2024. We aim to expand to additional communities in Michigan in early 2025.
How long will the program run?
We’re aiming to deliver cash to families for 5+ years in Flint and 2+ years in additional communities in Michigan.
By becoming an Rx Kids donor, you’re helping bridge this gap to ensure we can reach ~47,000 new moms and babies through 2027. Bringing Rx Kids to multiple new locations requires $104M in total funding to cover cash transfers, program expenses, and impact evaluation.
How will we study the program’s impact?
Researchers at Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan will conduct a mixed methods evaluation that includes quantitative analysis and interviews with participating mothers. We aim to isolate the impacts of the transfers from other factors by including a comparison group of babies born outside of the participating communities.
Can a donor choose which participating community to give to?
As mentioned above, funds raised on or after August 27, 2024 may be allocated, at the discretion of GiveDirectly, to any of the participating Rx Kids communities.
However, if a donor feels strongly about dedicating their donation to a specific participating community, they can choose to do so for selected communities.
To donate to the launch of Rx Kids in Kalamazoo, please visit: https://bit.ly/RxKidsKalamazoo.
What do you do with excess funds raised?
If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds raised to expectant mothers enrolled in RX Kids, donations will be delivered to other low-income Americans in need.
Similarly, if a donor makes a recurring donation, any future payments made after the campaign closes will be allocated to other U.S. cash programs.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3), and our U.S. federal EIN is 27-1661997.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more information on ways to give.
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