Detroit’s Rx Kids program sees historic success; enrolls 1,000 mothers, distributes $1M in first month

• Nation's First Community-Wide Prenatal and Infant Cash Program already making major impact on the lives of babies and their families
• Program a key part of Mayor Sheffield's overall strategy to reduce childhood poverty in Detroit

Rx Kids has reached a major milestone just one month after launching in Detroit. More than 1,000 Detroit mothers have enrolled in the program, with over $1 million in cash already delivered to families. The groundbreaking initiative provides direct financial support to mothers during pregnancy and throughout a baby's first six months. Detroit is the largest city in the nation to participate in Rx Kids.

"Rx Kids, like our livable wage commitment, is about giving every Detroiter a real shot at thriving, not someday, but now. Seeing more than 1,000 Detroit mothers enrolling so quickly tells you everything: families are ready, and Detroit is delivering. We made a promise to show up during one of life's most important moments, and we're keeping it. Detroit is among the nation's leaders in investing in our babies. This city believes in the limitless potential of every child born here."

Rx Kids provides a $1,500 cash prescription during pregnancy, followed by $500 per month throughout the baby's first six months. The program recognizes that pregnancy and infancy are often the most financially vulnerable times for families and aims to provide meaningful support when it matters most.

"We know from decades of research that providing families with direct, predictable resources during pregnancy and infancy leads to healthier babies, stronger financial stability and better outcomes for communities," said Dr. Luke Shaefer, Mayor Sheffield's new Chief Executive of Health, Human Services, and Poverty Solutions. "Detroit's early momentum demonstrates how cities can turn evidence into action and make meaningful investments in the well-being of the next generation."

With approximately 8,000 babies born in Detroit each year, the program has the potential to deliver tens of millions of dollars in direct support to Detroit families while improving maternal and infant health outcomes and strengthening the local economy.

"The response from Detroit families has been extraordinary, but it's not surprising," said Dr. Mona Hanna, pediatrician, Rx Kids director, and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University. "Pregnancy and a baby's first months should be a time of joy, not financial stress. By providing simple, direct support, Detroit is helping families start strong and giving babies what they need to thrive from day one."

"The Rx Kids program has provided my family with relief," said Mercedesz Brown, a lifelong Detroit resident and mother of twins born in February 2026. "As a first-time mom of twins, it truly is a blessing and came to Detroit at a perfect time. Because of Rx Kids, I have been able to set funds aside, pay bills, and purchase things I need for my girls. With twins, everything is so much more expensive because it is doubled. It has helped me pay my rent. Just like the city of Detroit, I was polished with tenacity and resilience. And now being a twin mom, knowing I might not get a lot of sleep, but at least I have the relief and security for six months of my life where I don't have to worry about being evicted, I don't have to worry about where I'm going to get money from. I'm truly grateful to Dr. Mona and Mayor Sheffield for thinking of us moms."

Rx Kids is a program led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly. It is supported by a public-private partnership, including bipartisan investment from the State of Michigan alongside philanthropic, corporate and local partners.

Families looking to learn more information or enroll can visit rxkids.org.