Rx Kids Program Expands to Detroit and Across Michigan to Support Pregnant Mothers and Infants

A program designed to combat deep infant poverty by providing cash payments to pregnant mothers and their babies in Flint is set to expand to other cities across Michigan. Rx Kids, described by officials as a first-of-its-kind initiative, is working to ensure that mothers and their infants have the essential resources they need during a critical period in their lives. Rx Kids provides pregnant mothers with $1,500 mid-pregnancy for essentials like food, prenatal care, cribs, and other necessities. After the birth of the child, families receive $500 a month for the first year of the infant’s life, totaling $7,500. This no-strings-attached program, which has no income restrictions for eligibility, was launched in January. Recently, a $20 million allocation in the state budget has been approved, aiming to expand Rx Kids beyond Flint. The expansion is expected to reach five counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula, including Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft, as well as the cities of Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Dearborn, Highland Park, River Rouge, and parts of Detroit. The budget now awaits Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signature. If Rx Kids secures the necessary philanthropic dollars, the program could commence in these new locations as early as January. Dr. Mona Hanna,...