The city of Detroit will soon welcome the Rx Kids program, which gives financial support to pregnant women and new mothers. The program previously launched in other areas of Michigan with the goal of providing assistance to those affected by poverty. Detroit’s Rx Kids program is set to start during the first 100 days of the tenure of Mary Sheffield, the city’s first Black woman mayor.
What is the Rx Kids program?
The Rx Kids program was developed by Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University. It was started to help ease financial challenges met by families before and after the birth of a child.
“Today, we take a step forward in our fight against poverty, and today we affirm that all children deserve a strong start in life and that the health of a city begins with the health of its children,” Sheffield said on Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The program offers $1,500 in cash assistance mid-pregnancy, then $500 a month for at least six months of a baby’s life.
Although there are no income requirements to sign up for the program, expectant mothers have to prove they are pregnant as part of the approval process. Parents will be able to sign up via RxKids’s official website when the program launches. Participating families will be able to use the funds on rent, utilities, diapers and food, as well as services such as utility help and tax preparation.
“RxKids is the nation’s first-ever program that puts $7,500 directly in the pockets of new moms to help them care for their babies while improving their finances and health, and I’m so proud that Mayor Sheffield is expanding it into Detroit,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement, according to WXYZ.
Detroit will be the largest city in Michigan to participate in the Rx Kids program
The program is set to launch during the first 100 days of Mayor Sheffield’s administration.
“Detroit has always been a city that leads with heart and courage, and today we are once again setting a national standard by ensuring that every mother has real support, and every baby has a strong start,” Sheffield said, per WXYZ.
Rx Kids has already launched in 20 communities in Michigan. Areas of focus are selected based on child poverty, as well as maternal and infant health data. Detroit welcomes 8,000 babies each year and 44% of children under 18 years old live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. A third of people are estimated to live below the federal poverty level.
The program has shown to lead to a drop in evictions and fewer preterm births and neonatal intensive care unit admissions, according to early research.