FLINT, MI – Rx Kids will soon open applications in Pontiac – another Michigan expansion of the cash prescription program for mothers and babies piloted in Flint.
The program recently launched applications in five Upper Peninsula counties, shortly after it began operating in Kalamazoo, the program’s first expansion city, in February.
The expansion was announced in a news conference in partnership with the Pontiac Funders Collaborative on Tuesday, March 18.
Pontiac mothers and families can be eligible for a cash prescription of up to $1,500 during pregnancy and an additional $500 each month for six months after birth.
A partnership between Rx Kids, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency and the City of Pontiac allowed the expansion, according to a news release from Rx Kids.
Rx Kids is expecting to support 800 mothers in Pontiac in its first few years, per the releasee. Enrollment is expected to open in mid-2025.
“Investing in mothers and infants is one of the most effective ways to build a healthier and stronger community,” Director Dr. Mona Hanna said in a statement. “Through Rx Kids, Pontiac families will receive life-changing cash prescriptions allowing them to make financial decisions that will ultimately improve the health, hope and opportunity for thousands of Pontiac residents.”
The Pontiac Funders Collaborative donated $1 million to the program. It was also made possible by a $3.5 million gift from The Alix Foundation.
OLHSA will conduct outreach and community engagement efforts for the program in Pontiac.
“I see firsthand the challenges that mothers face when preparing for a newborn,” OLHSA CEO Dr. Susan Harding said in a statement. “Growing families have growing expenses. Raising a child comes with financial demands, and Rx Kids will provide crucial support to help families cover essentials, reduce stress and create a more stable environment for their children.”
Rx Kids is a program of the Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. It is administered by GiveDirectly.
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