The Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan, which provides financial support to pregnant mothers and infants, is expanding statewide with the help of $20 million in state funding and aims to combat infant poverty by offering up to $7,500 per family.
Michigan’s Rx Kids Program Expands Statewide to Fight Infant Poverty with $7,500 Support for New Moms
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan, which gives pregnant mothers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their baby’s first year, will expand statewide with $20 million in state funding. Led by Dr. Mona Hanna, the program helps families buy essentials like food and prenatal care, and will soon reach areas like Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Dearborn, and parts of Detroit.
Rx Kids has been very successful in Flint, where many children live in poverty. So far, the program has given over $2 million to 828 families, helping them pay for rent, utilities, food, and diapers. Seeing these positive results, lawmakers decided to use federal funds to bring the program to other parts of the state. The extra cash has made a big difference for families, allowing them to cover basic needs and save money for the future.
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Michigan’s $27.5 Million Initiative: Rx Kids Aims to Alleviate Infant Poverty with $7,500 in Financial Support per Child (PHOTO: Giving to MSU – Michigan State University)
Rx Kids Seeks Donor Support to Expand Statewide and Improve Early Childhood Outcomes in Michigan
For the program to grow, it needs more funding from donors to match the state’s investment. Leaders like Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Ali Abazeed stress the importance of this support, saying that helping children early in life can have long-term benefits. With community foundations and local governments already promising help, Rx Kids hopes to start in new locations as soon as January, aiming to give Michigan’s youngest residents a better start in life.
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