NORTHERN MICHIGAN —The Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) has announced an expanded partnership with Rx Kids to provide financial support to pregnant women and infants in Gladwin and Roscommon Counties, starting December 1, 2025.
Rx Kids, a pioneering program, offers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for the first six months of a baby’s life to eligible families, with no conditions attached. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden of raising a newborn.
“Across our communities, families are doing their best to provide for their children, but the costs that come with a new baby can add up quickly,” said Steve Hall, CMDHD Health Officer. “By expanding Rx Kids, we’re helping parents meet those early expenses and create a stronger foundation for their growing families.”
Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids has expanded to over 20 Michigan communities, including Kalamazoo, Pontiac, and the Eastern Upper Peninsula. On August 1, 2025, the program was introduced in Clare County, marking the first Central Michigan community to adopt this innovative approach to reducing childhood poverty.
In Clare County, Rx Kids has already distributed $213,500 to 107 families, demonstrating the program’s potential impact. The expansion to Gladwin and Roscommon Counties is expected to bring similar benefits to more families in Mid-Michigan.
Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids Director and Associate Dean of Public Health at Michigan State University, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, “We are delighted to be expanding to Roscommon and Gladwin Counties, bringing life-changing support to more families across Mid-Michigan.”
The program is a collaboration between Michigan State University’s Pediatric Public Health Initiative and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, administered by GiveDirectly.
CMDHD will lead local outreach efforts to connect eligible families to the program.
Funding for the program comes from the State of Michigan and philanthropic partners, including the Skyline Foundation.
Current funding supports prenatal and six months of postnatal payments for approximately 400 families per year in Gladwin and Roscommon Counties.
Additional donors are being sought to extend the benefits through the baby’s first year and beyond, highlighting the ongoing need for financial support to sustain and expand the program’s reach.