Detroit Launches Cash Assistance Program for Expectant Mothers
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced Monday that the city will join Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program. This makes Detroit the largest municipality in the nation to offer direct cash…
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced Monday that the city will join Michigan State University's Rx Kids program. This makes Detroit the largest municipality in the nation to offer direct cash payments to expectant and new mothers. The program will provide $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for six months after birth.
Enrollment opens within the first 100 days of Sheffield's administration, which began Jan. 1. The mayor made the announcement at Franklin Wright Settlements.
About 8,000 babies are born in the city each year. All expectant mothers at least 16 weeks pregnant qualify. Income doesn't matter. Recipients must confirm pregnancy through online signup.
"Detroit has always been a city that leads with heart and courage, and today we are once again setting a national standard by ensuring that every mother has real support, and every baby has a strong start," said Sheffield according to the City of Detroit.
The program has a $4 million annual budget. The city will contribute $500,000 per year for three years. Additional funding comes from The Skillman Foundation, GreenLight Fund Detroit, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, General Motors, and Huntington Bank.
Sheffield said about $9 million has been raised. Another $2.5 million is still needed. Michigan committed $250 million in its fiscal year 2026 budget to expand the two-year-old effort.
Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and associate dean of Public Health at Michigan State, founded and directs the program. She calls it a "bold public health effort to improve outcomes."
About 34% of the city's 639,000 residents live in poverty, according to census data. The median household income stands at about $39,200. That compares to more than $72,000 for the rest of the state. Half of children in the city live in poverty.
"That means that too many of our children are entering life's journey burdened by financial hardship before they even take their first steps," Sheffield told reporters per the Associated Press.
