Rx Kids, co-directed by the Ford School's Luke Shaefer, celebrated it one-year anniversary at the end of January. The program has given access to $6M in cash support for over 1,300 Flint families with pregnant mothers and babies in their first years of life. Here is a sample of the media coverage of the festivities:
“Rx Kids 1-year anniversary celebration” MLive, January 29, 2025 - MLive has captured a collection of photos from the event, some of which include the Ford School's Luke Shaefer.
“Flint’s Rx Kids celebrates its 1st birthday” WNEM, January 29, 2025 - Shaefer spoke with WNEM addressing his passion for the Rx Kids program. “Poverty actually spikes to the highest in the life course in that first year. And so we’re just hearing from families, both that the money helps them, empowers them to take care of their families, to buy that stroller, or that car seat, or that crib, to buy those diapers that we all know are so incredibly expensive.”
“Rx Kids provides nearly $6M to Flint babies, families in first year” MLive, January 29, 2025 - MLive reported that 89% of RX Kids recipients utilize funding to help mitigate financial shocks. Shaefer explained that financial shocks can come in various forms such as job loss, unexpected bills, or car trouble.
