UPPER PENINSULA — Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program expanded to all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula on Monday. The initiative is the first community-wide prenatal and infant cash program in the United States.
Families who are at least 16 weeks pregnant or have a baby born on or after March 1, 2026, are now eligible to apply for financial support. The program provides a one-time payment of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months after a child is born.
The expansion triples the program’s reach in the region, growing from five counties to a region-wide coverage area. Led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly, the program aims to improve health outcomes and strengthen financial security for roughly 18,000 babies born in Michigan each year.
The 10 additional counties joining the program include Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee and Ontonagon. These communities join five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula that have participated in the program for one year. Applicants can register at RxKids.org to begin the verification process.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who announced the expansion plan last month, described the initiative as a national model for supporting newborns. “Michigan is leading the nation by giving moms and babies the support they need to thrive,” Whitmer said. “Rx Kids is an innovative, bipartisan program designed to improve health outcomes and reduce child poverty, the first of its kind in the country.”
Dr. Mona Hanna serves as the founder and director of Rx Kids and is the associate dean of public health at the MSU College of Human Medicine. Hanna, who lived in Houghton as a child, said the expansion to the new counties is personally meaningful. “Being able to deliver a program that brings real health, hope and opportunity to families here feels like coming full circle,” Hanna said. She noted that the program is intended to ensure every child born in the region has the support they need to thrive from the start.
Originally launched in Flint in 2024, the program provides direct support during the prenatal and infancy periods to help families afford essentials. Families use the funds for baby supplies, food, housing, child care and transportation to medical appointments. Early results from existing Michigan sites show improved family stability and reduced financial stress. Sen. Ed McBroom, a lifelong resident of the region and father of five, said the expansion will support parents while infusing money into local economies. “As a father of five, I understand how important financial stability is and how a new baby impacts a household,” McBroom said. He added that he hopes the program will help reverse the negative impacts of a declining population in the region.
Local health departments will act as community champions to drive outreach and engagement. Nick Derusha, director and health officer of the LMAS District Health Department, said the program gives parents practical resources to overcome challenges in rural and remote areas. Mike Snyder, health officer for Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties, said the expansion will benefit families at one of the most critical times in their lives. Patrick Jacuzzo, administrative health officer and director of the Marquette County Health Department, called the initiative an “evidence-based program that is proven to improve outcomes for infants and moms of all walks of life.”
The expansion also includes tribal communities across the region. Austin Lowes, chairman of the Sault Tribe, said the program has already shown a powerful impact in the Eastern Upper Peninsula by providing financial stability for mothers in the tribe. “We are grateful to see this opportunity extended across the entire U.P.,” Lowes said.
Funding for the initiative is provided by a public-private partnership including the State of Michigan and various philanthropic groups. Contributors include the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, Keweenaw Community Foundation, Mich. Health Endowment Fund, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation, Perigee Fund and the Superior Health Foundation. Superior Health Foundation CEO Megan Murphy said the program moves the region closer to a vision of a healthy and thriving population. Her organization will serve as the regional fiduciary for the partnership.
The State of Michigan has committed $250 million to expand Rx Kids to additional high-need communities over the next three years. While a recent House Appropriations Committee decision to reduce 2024-2025 funding may limit some expansion, program leaders said they are continuing to collaborate with partners to ensure families receive support.