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LANSING — Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program, the nation’s first prenatal and infant cash prescription program, is expanding again, this time bringing its groundbreaking support to Montmorency County in partnership with Thunder Bay Community Health Service. At the same time, enrollment has opened for families in the Southeast Michigan cities of Mount Clemens and Center Line, with a separate launch celebration planned next week.

On Wednesday, pregnant mothers living in Montmorency County, Mount Clemens, and Center Line can apply to receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months of their baby’s life.

As Rx Kids continues to expand into communities across the state, Michigan is setting the national standard for innovative, efficient, evidence-informed policy that improves health outcomes, strengthens families, and builds stronger communities. In the last two months, Rx Kids has launched in the City of Detroit and expanded across the entire Upper Peninsula.

“Rx Kids is proving that when we invest directly in families, it works, whether they live in a rural county like Montmorency or in the heart of a major city” said Dr. Mona Hanna, founder and director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “Every community deserves healthy pregnancies, thriving babies, and less financial stress. Michigan is showing the nation what’s possible when we put families first.”

Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids provides direct cash support during pregnancy and early infancy, which is one of the most financially challenging and developmentally critical periods for families. Early results from Rx Kids communities across Michigan show near‒universal enrollment, reduced financial stress, improved maternal and infant health, and stronger local economies as dollars flow directly into neighborhood businesses.

“After decades of caring for families in northern Michigan, I’ve seen time and time again how financial stress can be a threat to a healthy pregnancy,” said Dr. Richard Bates, CEO, Thunder Bay Community Health Service. “That’s why bringing Rx Kids to Montmorency County matters so deeply. Thanks to bipartisan support from the Legislature, generous donors, and the leadership of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, our community can now offer mothers the stability they need. Health begins in the home, and with Rx Kids, we’re giving families the chance to start strong.”

A model of efficiency and program integrity, Rx Kids is led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly, the global leader in cash transfers. A public-private partnership, the initiative is made possible thanks to support from the State of Michigan and a three-year commitment from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan. Thunder Bay Community Health Service will serve as the local Community Champion, supporting outreach, engagement, and celebration.

“It is a privilege for the Community Foundation to be part of a program that invests in the health of new mothers and their babies,” said Christine Hitch, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan Development & Marketing Director. “This work reflects our commitment to building strong and vibrant communities, and we are proud to help steward philanthropic resources that support positive outcomes for families during this critical stage of life.”

As a public-private partnership, Rx Kids is funded through both public investment and philanthropic leadership. In a historic bipartisan commitment, the State of Michigan invested $250 million to expand the program to additional high-need communities over the next three years. For more information, to donate, and to apply, visit RxKids.org.

About Rx Kids

Rx Kids is the nation’s first-ever, community-wide maternal and infant cash prescription program, founded and directed by Dr. Mona Hanna, pediatrician and Associate Dean of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Administered by GiveDirectly, the global leader in cash transfers, Rx Kids has efficiently delivered direct support to thousands of families across dozens of communities–strengthening family financial security, improving maternal and infant health, and boosting local economies.

Rx Kids is built on a strong network of partners who bring together academic leadership, community expertise, and public-private investment to make this vision possible. Co-founded by Michigan State University and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, Rx Kids is implemented in partnership with local Community Champions and stakeholders who drive outreach, engagement, and celebration. Sustained through a robust public-private partnership that blends state investment with philanthropic and other support, Rx Kids reimagines what’s possible with a prescription for health, hope, and opportunity.