Dearborn to spend $1.5 million on Rx Kids cash‑assistance program with GiveDirectly

The City Council on June 10 approved a sole‑source contract with GiveDirectly to implement the Rx Kids cash‑assistance program in Dearborn, formally authorizing the transfer and appropriation of funds to launch the initiative.

Public Health Director Ali Abbazir told the council the program targets economic instability during pregnancy and infancy. “The way Rx kids works is that, all pregnant, women and dearborn receive a $1,500, check or cash, infusion at 20 weeks pregnancy, and then they receive $500 a month for the first 6 months of that kid's life,” Abbazir said, describing a $4,500 total cash package per eligible family in the program’s model.

Council action authorized a $1,500,000 contract with GiveDirectly and a related $500,000 transfer from the city’s ARPA general capital improvement fund to the general fund to support the program. Staff said the funding combines federal earmarks and other sources the council previously recognized and that the contract formalizes GiveDirectly’s role in administration. The council’s motion carried with a unanimous roll call.

Abbazir said Dearborn will be one of the larger expansion cities for Rx Kids, a program that launched in Flint. Staff said they expect to move toward a late‑summer rollout, and that the initiative will operate in partnership with community and university fellows working in public health and social services. Council members asked staff to track and report program implementation and outcomes once payments begin.

A technical error in the council agenda was noted during the discussion: staff and members agreed an extra zero was missing in the draft agenda’s typed amount, and they confirmed the intended contract sum was $1,500,000 as announced at the meeting.

Next steps: staff to complete contract paperwork with GiveDirectly and return implementation timelines and program metrics to the council as funds are disbursed.