“I’m Happy to be Happy for my Baby”: Perceptions of Rx Kids Prenatal and Infant Cash Prescriptions

Abstract To understand participants’ perceptions of Rx Kids, a first-in-the-nation, community-wide prenatal and infant cash transfer program. Open-ended responses to questions assessing 533 participants’ perceptions of Rx Kids were collected in a voluntary survey (53% response rate). In total, 3,608 responses were included in the analysis. Using codebook thematic analysis, researchers coded responses and generated themes. Researchers generated 8 themes: (1) financial stability and spending, (2) mental health and wellbeing, (3) empowerment, agency, & community, (4) parenting resources and perceptions, (5) families’ physical health, (6) gratitude, (7) program end, and (8) program extension and expansion. Findings demonstrate a variety of favorable benefits from Rx Kids participation. Policymakers should consider prenatal and infant cash transfers as an effective intervention to improve outcomes for mothers, families, and communities at large.