Rx Kids Program Expands to Pontiac to Support Expecting Mothers and Infants
Rx Kids, in partnership with the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA), the City of Pontiac, Oakland County and the Pontiac Funders Collaborative today announced the expansion of the Rx Kids program to Pontiac. Set to launch in mid-2025, the program will provide critical financial support to expecting mothers and families in Pontiac, with $8.5 million contributed to ensure its success across the first two years.
Originally launched in Flint, MI in 2024, Rx Kids offers cash prescriptions to pregnant mothers with no strings attached, providing an initial $1,500 during pregnancy and an additional $500 per month throughout the baby’s first year of life. Following the program’s expansion to Kalamazoo and the Eastern Upper Peninsula, Pontiac will become the first city in southeast Michigan to launch this transformative initiative aimed at strengthening families and reducing childhood poverty.
“Investing in mothers and infants is one of the most effective ways to build a healthier and stronger community,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, pediatrician, director of Rx Kids, and associate dean of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “Through Rx Kids, Pontiac families will receive life-changing cash prescriptions allowing them to make financial decisions that will ultimately improve the health, hope, and opportunity for thousands of Pontiac residents.”
“Investing in mothers and infants is one of the most effective ways to build a healthier and stronger community,” – Dr. Mona Hanna
Rx Kids is a program of the Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, and administered by GiveDirectly.
Pictured left to right: Dr. Susan Harding, CEO of OLHSA, Erin Casey, director of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative, and Dr. Mona Hanna, pediatrician, director of Rx Kids
The local champion for the Rx Kids Pontiac program is OLHSA, which will help support outreach and community engagement efforts. “I see firsthand the challenges that mothers face when preparing for a newborn,” said Dr. Susan Harding, CEO of OLHSA. “Growing families have growing expenses. Raising a child comes with financial demands, and Rx Kids will provide crucial support to help families cover essentials, reduce stress, and create a more stable environment for their children.”
The initiative is made possible through the State of Michigan, as well as the generosity of regional philanthropic partners, including a $1 million donation from the Pontiac Funders Collaborative and a transformative $3.5 million gift from The Alix Foundation, including a $500,000 match opportunity. Additional champions of this initiative include the Total Health Foundation of Priority Health and the City of Pontiac.
While funding supports the initial prenatal transfer and six months of cash prescriptions for all expectant mothers and infants in Pontiac – estimated at 800 births per year – funders are calling on additional donors and philanthropic organizations to invest in the program to ensure mothers in Pontiac are supported for the full year and beyond.
“The Pontiac Funders Collaborative is honored to be an early supporter of Rx Kids in Pontiac,” said Erin Casey, director of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative. “With Dr. Mona’s leadership, the dedication of our partners at OLHSA, Governor Whitmer’s commitment, and the generosity of other philanthropic partners, we are reaffirming that Pontiac moms and babies matter.”
As Rx Kids prepares to launch in Pontiac, community leaders and funders remain committed to expanding this life-changing program to ensure that all families have the resources they need for a healthy and secure start in life.
Community members interested in learning more or supporting Rx Kids Pontiac should visit rxkids.org. Additional information about the program launch and enrollment will be available in the coming months.
Detroit Free Press: Cash payment program for moms and babies to expand to Pontiac in May.
MLive: Rx Kids to open applications in Pontiac, continuing statewide expansion
MLive: New mothers offered $4,500 in program expanding into Southeast Michigan
Michigan Public NPR: Cash aid program for moms, babies expanding to Pontiac
Crain’s Detroit: Flint water doctor’s cash for pregnant women program gains backers, expands to metro Detroit
