In partnership with community members and national experts, the Rx Kids team has created a robust and comprehensive research plan to evaluate the program’s impact. Rx Kids researchers are investigating whether the program improves birth outcomes, maternal health, early childhood health, financial stability, health care utilization, and community economic and civic well-being. The figure below illustrates some of the many outcomes being examined, both in Flint and in other communities.
What We Research
Rx Kids researchers are investigating:
Families’ Basic Needs
- Economic stability
- Material hardship
- Food insecurity
- Housing instability
Maternal & Infant Health
- Prematurity
- Birthweight
- Infant mortality
- Maternal mortality
- Postpartum depression
- Breastfeeding initiation and maintenance
Early Childhood Health
- Lead screening
- Immunization
- Early literacy
- Stress biomarkers
- ACES/PCEs
- Child welfare
- Neurocognitive development
Adult Health
- Parental stress
- Wellbeing
- Dignity and trust
- Happiness and hope
- Substance abuse
- Physical and mental health
- Partner violence
Health Processes
- Maternal-infant support programs
- Safety net demand
- Enrichment participation
- Prenatal and well child visit attendance
- Child protective services involvement
- Inpatient hospitalization
Community Benefits
- Birth rate
- Employment rate
- Civic engagement
- Economic reinvestment
- Neighborhood safety
- Population stability