Rx Kids Expands to City of Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township

Moms and Babies in Two New Oakland County Communities Eligible for Groundbreaking Program

Rx Kids, in partnership with OLHSA (Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency), today announced the expansion of its transformative cash prescription program to the City of Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township. Rx Kids will offer eligible mothers in these two communities $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month throughout the baby’s first six months of life—no-strings-attached.

This expansion follows the previous launch of Rx Kids in Pontiac, another Oakland County community, on May 1, 2025.

“This expansion reflects our commitment to ensuring every child in Michigan has a strong start in life,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “We are thrilled to welcome Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township into the Rx Kids family.”

Launching Rx Kids in these high-need communities reaches moms and babies at a critical time. With the addition of these two communities, the plug-and-play Rx Kids program will be live in 11 communities across Michigan, shaping the lives of thousands of families.

“Rx Kids is such an important step forward for Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township”, said Dr. Susan Harding, CEO of OLHSA. “When moms and babies have the financial resources they need right from the start, it strengthens families and builds healthier communities. OLHSA is honored to help support this vital resource for the families of Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township.”

“The Rx Kids program is providing critical cash assistance that is already helping hundreds of families and newborns in Pontiac with the essentials that are allowing them to thrive,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “We’re thrilled to support and expand this program to even more families in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township.”

Infants born on or after September 1, 2025, and expectant mothers who live in the City of Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township are eligible to apply. Families can learn more and apply at RxKids.org.

Rx Kids is a program of the Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, administered by GiveDirectly. The program is made possible with generous support from the State of Michigan and a growing family of funders and supporters. The launch in the City of Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township is generously supported by Oakland County and The Children’s Foundation.

Rx Kids Impact on Families Across Michigan

A newly released participant survey from Rx Kids highlights the transformative impact of the groundbreaking cash prescription program on families across Michigan. Administered by GiveDirectly in May 2025, the survey marks the first comprehensive evaluation including data from all Rx Kids program sites, offering a statewide snapshot of the program’s reach and effectiveness. This includes newly launched communities in Pontiac, Kalamazoo, and five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Since its inception, Rx Kids has delivered over $13 million in direct cash support to more than 3,000 families. With a remarkable 98% enrollment rate across all participating communities, Rx Kids has demonstrated exceptional accessibility and engagement among eligible families.

Recent survey results, which include Pontiac participants, provide real-time insights into how families are using the Rx Kids cash prescriptions to improve their health, financial stability, and overall well-being.

Key Findings:

87% of moms say that Rx Kids helps them make ends meet
Rx Kids moms were most likely to spend their cash prescriptions on baby supplies, followed by food, rent, and utilities.
48% of Rx Kids moms experienced financial shock since the program began. Of those, 84% used Rx Kids payments to mitigate that shock. Most commonly reported types of shocks included auto (32%), rent/utilities (17.8%), job loss (14.9%), basic expenses (10.7%), and moving (6.2%)
Over 60% of moms said that Rx Kids made it easier to get the healthcare that their household needs
Nearly 40% of moms said that Rx Kids incentivized them to get healthcare they wouldn’t normally get
96% of Rx Kids infants had attended at least one appointment
86% of surveyed moms had attended at least 1 prenatal care appointment
72% of moms said that the money they received from Rx Kids helped them take time off from work to care for themselves, their family, or their baby
81% of moms agree with the statement “Rx Kids helped me feel more confidence in caring for my child”