Since its start in January of 2024, Rx Kids has been a lifesaver for young families in Flint Michigan. The program was co-founded by the Ford School's Luke Shaefer and provides Flint residents with $1,500 mid-pregnancy, and $500 each month for the babies first year. Recently, Next City and NPR have explored what Rx Kids has meant for Flint families.
"Post-Partum Depression Is Costing Us Billions. Can Cities Help?" Next City, December 9, 2024 - Next City noted the program for its "place-based intervention. It’s not about poor people, but about poor places." Through the work of Shaefer and co-founder Dr. Mona Hanna, Federal and State funds and philanthropic donations combined have allowed to program to be available to all Flint residents. Shaefer finds that since the program's initiation they are "seeing improvements in birth weight, with fewer babies born in the very lowest birthweight category (under 3 pounds, 4 ounces) and fewer extremely premature babies (those born before 28 weeks)." Shaefer and Hanna continue to work in hopes of bringing Rx kids to additional communities in Michigan such as Kalamazoo and rural parts of the U.P.
"As federal aid shrinks, communities try new ways to tackle child poverty on their own" NPR, December 2, 2024 - Viewing Rx Kids from a policy-focused lens, NPR explores how the program got its start and its influence on policy today. Shaefer told NPR the day the Federal expanded child tax credit expired was the "most brutal day" of his career. It was at this moment that Shaefer and Hanna banded together to construct the program that would become Rx Kids. Communications about Rx Kids between Shaefer, Hanna, and Vice President Kamala Harris helped shape Harris' "baby bonus" proposal within her campaign.
