Within just one week of its launch, a program to pay direct cash to expectant mothers has already enrolled 35 families from Grand Rapids’ 49507 ZIP code.
The statewide initiative, RxKids offers expecting mothers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 every month during the child’s first six months.
The first week has seen a $33,500 investment in Grand Rapids. Across the state, $48.9 million has been “prescribed” to expecting families.
In other participating communities, 98% of the families eligible for the program enrolled, said Jennifer Headley-Nordman, president of First Steps Kent. As a result, program organizers expected a high rate of enrollment in Grand Rapids. First Steps Kent, an early childhood nonprofit, is the local partner for RxKids.
“Families are saying that the timing for a program like this is so valuable. It feels like a lifeline,” Headley-Nordman said.
Piloted in Flint, the program emphasizes direct cash transfers to families and has seen promising early results.
Families are reporting more stability and less stress. Participating mothers are smoking less in the third trimester of pregnancy; there are increased rates of prenatal care and significant reductions in Child Protective Services visits, per program data.
Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and Michigan State University professor, is spearheading the statewide effort. She cited higher birth weights, lower rates of premature births and lower rates of postpartum depression among RxKids participants.
“From the moment I became a pediatrician, I have wished and dreamt for a way to prescribe out of poverty,” Hanna said.
Families largely spend the additional income on baby supplies like diapers or needs like rent, food, transportation or utilities, Hanna and Headley-Nordman said.
The program allocates 85% of funds to direct cash transfers and the remaining 15% to administration, customer service and all other overhead costs. In comparison, Michigan in 2024 only allocated 6% of funds from the cash assistance program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to direct cash or voucher aid to families.
“We wanted dollars to go to families, not to go to layers of bureaucracy,” said Hanna.
All but one of the Grand Rapids families were enrolled during pregnancy. To be eligible, participants must be at least 16 weeks pregnant at enrollment, at least one of the parents must live in the 49507 ZIP code and newborns must be born on or after July 1 of this year. There are no income requirements. The program will run for at least three years.
Momentum for bringing the project to Grand Rapids began around a year-and-a-half ago, said Headley-Nordman. RxKids began in January 2024, and some of the positive effects were already apparent.
Several local politicians, including former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, current Mayor David LaGrand and others, were early proponents of bringing the program to the city.
“All of our local foundations were interested in stepping up,” Headley-Nordman said.
The state is appropriating $2.6 million annually for RxKids in the 49507 ZIP code. There are roughly 640 births annually in that ZIP code, said an RxKids spokesperson.
To access the state funds, several state and local entities, including Amway, the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Heart of West Michigan United Way, Jandernoa Foundation, KRW Foundation, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation, Steelcase Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Wege Foundation are collectively contributing $300,000 annually.
The Third Ward Equity Fund has committed $50,000 in fiscal year 2027 to the program.
Write to juliana@grherald.com