Rx Kids Program Administration
From enrollment to cash transfer, Rx Kids is a model of efficiency and program integrity. Unlike complicated, bureaucratic, and expensive programs, Rx Kids cuts the red tape and seamlessly delivers a program built on dignity, efficiency, transparency, and family-centered support. Every mom and baby who is eligible receives the resources they are promised — safely and securely.
GiveDirectly: Our Program Administrator
Rx Kids is a program founded and led by Michigan State University in partnership with GiveDirectly, the national and global leader in delivering secure, efficient, and transparent cash programs. GiveDirectly manages the operational backbone of Rx Kids, ensuring that funds reach families safely and reliably.
GiveDirectly brings more than 15 years of experience running large-scale cash transfer programs in the U.S. and around the world. Their systems and processes are built to handle sensitive information with the highest standards of security, anti-fraud prevention, and program integrity.
Enrollment Efficiency
Eligible expectant mothers enroll through a secure process at RxKids.org. Enrollment uses a best-in-class process to verify personal information for each applicant, such as residency in an Rx Kids community and pregnancy status, ensuring the program reaches only the families it’s designed to serve. Once enrolled and verified, moms receive $1,500 during pregnancy, and babies receive $500 per month for 6 or 12 months after birth, with local leaders in each Rx Kids community selecting the program duration based on funds raised.
Rx Kids moms shared the following about their experience with Rx Kids, as administered by GiveDirectly:
- “The customer service/help desk does everything they can to get things done in a quick, timely, and efficient manner to get you the help you need. The application process was easy and quick and was reviewed within a week of completing it. And the payment came quickly and helped me get rent paid, baby stuff, and gas in the car and appliances we needed for the home.”
- “The direct deposit transfers make it easy, the customer service is amazing with their responses.”
- “The customer service was always there with any questions or problems I had and didn’t make me feel like an “other” like most organizations do when they are helping.”
Ensuring Safe, Secure, and Trusted Operations
Once an application is submitted, GiveDirectly uses a combination of secure digital tools and human review to confirm participant identity and eligibility. This helps ensure that:
- Payments go to the correct person
- Enrollment is protected from impersonation or misuse
- Program integrity remains strong
These best-in-class validation procedures are designed to be accurate but also low-burden for applicants, maintaining rigorous standards while minimizing friction for moms.
Safeguarding & Fraud Prevention
GiveDirectly employs multiple layers of additional protection to detect and prevent fraud, including:
- Automated systems that flag unusual or suspicious activity
- Manual review by trained specialists
- Additional verification checks leveraging third-party data sources
- Investigations conducted by a firewalled internal team
This approach balances participant dignity with robust safeguards, ensuring the program remains trustworthy, fair, and accountable.
Data Security & Privacy
Protecting participant information is a top priority. GiveDirectly collects only the information necessary to administer the program and maintains strong data-security practices, including:
- Encrypted data storage and transmission
- Strict access controls so only authorized staff can view sensitive information
- Continuous monitoring for vulnerabilities
- Industry-standard firewalls and intrusion-prevention systems
Personal information is used only for administering the program and is never sold or shared for marketing purposes. All applicants consent to this data being collected and have the right to request that their information be deleted at any time. Privacy is foundational to Rx Kids’ operations.
Secure Payment Delivery
Once eligibility is confirmed, GiveDirectly delivers cash support through secure, participant-friendly methods such as direct deposit or a prepaid card. Moms choose the option that works best for them. Across Rx Kids sites, approximately 80% of participants choose a seamless direct deposit, further increasing the efficiency and integrity of the program.
Payments are tracked and monitored to ensure they arrive on time and in full. If any suspicious account activity is discovered, future payments are paused until an investigation is completed.
Best in Class Efficiency
Rx Kids is designed with efficiency at its core. We take the stewardship of both public and private dollars seriously, recognizing that every investment carries a responsibility to deliver real, measurable benefits to families and communities. As a public–private partnership, Rx Kids blends government support with other philanthropic and donor funding to maximize impact while minimizing administrative burden. By delivering resources directly to families through a streamlined, low-overhead model, Rx Kids ensures that the vast majority of funds go where they matter most—supporting healthy pregnancies, thriving infants, and stronger communities.
Notably, about 90% of State of Michigan funding goes directly to the program: 85% of all state funds flow straight to families, with 5% supporting program operations at MSU and GiveDirectly. This represents an exceptionally high level of efficiency for a program operating at this scale, while maintaining the strongest standards of safety, security, and program integrity. Only 10% supports essential overhead (also known as indirect expenses that are not tied to a specific project) —such as facilities, utilities, HR, IT, accounting, and compliance— that are required to administer a complex, multi-partner public–private initiative. Together, these investments ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability, while protecting both families and the public and private dollars entrusted to Rx Kids.
Bipartisan Support
The efficiency and effectiveness of Rx Kids has generated considerable bipartisan support. Michael Van Beek, Director of Research for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, wrote in a Bridge Michigan op-ed, “These are lessons for policymakers. They should consider converting existing government programs to make them function more like Rx Kids. This could reduce waste, increase efficiency, boost effectiveness and decrease costs. Policymakers could achieve what might seem far-fetched: reduce welfare spending while simultaneously alleviating more poverty.”
Read the many quotes and testimonials from supportive federal, state, and local elected officials.
- “Programs like Rx Kids reflect the bipartisan work we’ve done in Lansing to strengthen families and provide resources directly where they are needed most.” – State Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), Rx Kids News Release, December 3, 2025
- “In Flint, Rx Kids has created jobs and delivered a strong economic return to the local economy. That kind of impact shows the power of family first solutions, and I am hopeful that bringing Rx Kids to Gladwin County will provide the same boost to our local families and communities.” – State Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres), Rx Kids News Release, December 3, 2025
- “I’m proud that the State of Michigan has stepped up to support families through Rx Kids. I want to thank my colleagues for their bipartisan commitment to making Michigan more affordable and improving health outcomes for moms and babies—especially in rural communities. This is the most efficient way to help our community—targeted, meaningful support without growing government. We’re not expanding bureaucracy; we’re investing directly in families.” – State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-100), MLive article, August 1, 2025
- “By putting resources directly into the hands of families and new mothers, we not only improve maternal and infant health outcomes but also give the next generation a stronger, healthier start. I’m thrilled to see Rx Kids launch in Berrien County and hopeful that this program can expand to support even more families across Southwest Michigan.” – Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), Rx Kids News Release, January 12, 2026
- “We’ve already seen just how beneficial Rx Kids is for the health, financial security, and overall well-being of Michigan families, which is why I’m so proud that my colleagues and I fought to secure continued state funding for this evidence-based program, expanding its reach to even more moms and babies.” – Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit), Rx Kids News Release, October 8, 2025
