Rx Kids, cash aid program for new parents, set for major expansion with state budget boost

By Julia Cardi and Beth LeBlanc, MediaNews Group

The Flint-based money help program for brand new dad and mom can be considerably expanded in Michigan after the state Legislature accepted $270 million from the newly handed finances to increase it to extra Michigan communities over the following three years.

Rx Youngsters, which presently receives funding from a mixture of native authorities assist and philanthropic cash, offers $1,500 to moms throughout being pregnant and $500 per 30 days for the primary six or 12 months of the infant’s life, relying on the quantity of funding for this system in a selected neighborhood. It was based by Dr. Mona Hanna, the Genesee County pediatrician who was instrumental in bringing consideration to the Flint water disaster.

The funding enhance within the state finances is predicted to permit Rx Youngsters to offer help to the dad and mom of roughly 30,000 infants per yr – a 3rd of the roughly 100,000 born yearly in Michigan.

“I believe what excites me most is that it is a bipartisan subject,” mentioned Luke Schaefer, co-director of this system and director of the College of Michigan’s Poverty Options program. “So it’s totally thrilling to have a program that has assist from all sides on this time when it looks like every thing is polarized.”

There aren’t any parental participation necessities for this system. This system presently operates in 11 communities throughout the state, together with Flint, Kalamazoo, 5 counties within the japanese Higher Peninsula, Clare County and Pontiac, Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township.

A research of this system in Flint, the place Rx Youngsters was first launched, discovered a hyperlink between a 27% lower in low delivery weight and an 18% lower in preterm births, in keeping with this system. In the meantime, a research of latest moms in Flint discovered a hyperlink to outcomes resembling enhancements in housing stability and entry to meals, this system mentioned.

“The explanation this handed the finances and why there may be very broad bipartisan assist for this program is actually rooted in our proof,” Hanna mentioned. “Rx Youngsters works.”

Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, who represents components of the Higher Peninsula and the northern Decrease Peninsula, was among the many program’s vocal Republican supporters.

Rx Youngsters has not been with out its critics, nevertheless. Michigan Home Speaker Matt Corridor, a Republican, advised that elevated funding for this system was certainly one of “all of the methods (the Democrats) tried to place pork on this finances.”

“I am not a giant fan of it, , however I believe what I am making an attempt to do is discuss to our members in regards to the problem of constructing offers,” Corridor informed The Detroit Information. “We should concentrate on the victories we’ve got achieved and never dwell on the victories the opposite aspect has achieved.”

New communities into which this system can be expanded have but to be decided. In Wayne County, the launch of Rx Youngsters is awaiting county fee approval for beforehand proposed funding. Dearborn has already accepted a $1 million federal grant from the Division of Well being and Human Companies for Rx Youngsters.

Hanna has beforehand mentioned this system enlargement wouldn’t but embody Detroit, which has the very best little one poverty fee in Michigan, as a result of town’s funding wants can be so nice.

However Shaefer is optimistic that the Detroit launch may finally occur with the assist of Metropolis Council officers and town’s subsequent mayor, whom voters will select in November.

“It isn’t definitive, however I believe it may undoubtedly occur,” Shaefer mentioned.

Offering transparency is being questioned

State funding for the Rx Youngsters program will enhance from $20 million within the fiscal yr ending Sept. 30 to $270 million in 2026.

Senate Majority Chief Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, first publicly proposed the funding enhance on Oct. 1 as a $100 million earmark grant. This was elevated to $250 million on October 3.

The large enlargement of the grant has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers who’ve tried to rein in zoning spending over the previous yr.

Throughout a gathering of the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, senators mentioned new proposed guidelines that will require prior disclosure of earmarks.

Senator Lana Theis requested how the prior disclosure guidelines would apply to a case just like the $250 million Rx Youngsters obtained.

The grant was “initially proposed for $100 million, however it ended up being $250 million. It wasn’t even one thing you may search for on the invoice earlier than our vote as a result of it has a special identify than Rx Youngsters,” the Brighton Republican mentioned Tuesday. “…How does the transparency piece work, how is it equated with this?”

Sen. Sarah Anthony, a Lansing Democrat who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, mentioned the laws requiring prior disclosure can be potential or can be applied in coming years.

“For those who want extra details about that particular program, we will discuss offline,” Anthony mentioned earlier than wrapping up Theis’ questions.

Initially revealed: October 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM EDT