Enrollment opens for residents in the City of Galesburg and Oshtemo and Wakeshma Townships.
Rx Kids, the nation’s first-ever community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program, is open for enrollment to residents of the City of Galesburg and Oshtemo and Wakeshma Townships in Kalamazoo County.
Rx Kids is a place-based program designed to improve maternal and infant health by addressing the economic hardship families face during pregnancy and infancy. Eligible families in the City of Galesburg and Oshtemo and Wakeshma Townships will receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first year of a child’s life.
“Rx Kids is providing a future where all families have the financial stability they need to nurture healthy, thriving children,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, Director of Rx Kids and Associate Dean of Public Health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “Since launching in the City of Kalamazoo, the people of Kalamazoo County have seen how powerful it is to invest in moms during pregnancy and babies in their first year of life. Bringing this efficient and effective program to the City of Galesburg and Oshtemo and Wakeshma townships is another step toward reducing stress, boosting local economies, and giving babies the start they deserve.”
In the City of Galesburg, Oshtemo Township, and Wakeshma Township, the initiative is made possible thanks to support from the State of Michigan, the Stryker Johnston Foundation, and Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF).
“I’m thrilled to see the evidence-based, widely successful Rx Kids program expand to our communities of Oshtemo and Galesburg,” said State Senator Sean McCann. “Investing directly into our new mothers and babies during this critical stage sets the next generation up for success and builds strong, healthy futures right here in Michigan. I am proud to support this effort to prioritize the well-being of our youngest residents and provide families with tools they need to tackle food insecurity, childhood poverty, and more.”
“As a public health physician focused on prevention, I know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—and there is no smarter investment we can make than in our youngest children and their families,” said State Representative Matt Longjohn. “Rx Kids relieves real financial stress during pregnancy and early infancy, giving parents the breathing room they need to make healthier decisions for themselves and their babies. That kind of early support pays dividends for a lifetime, strengthening families, improving health outcomes, and building stronger communities.”
Rx Kids is led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly. Cradle Kalamazoo has served as the local Community Champion for the City of Kalamazoo and will extend its reach to these new communities, supporting outreach, engagement, and celebration. KZCF will also continue to serve as local fiduciary and welcomes contributions to ensure the sustainability of the program. The Kalamazoo County communities will launch the prenatal plus 12 month version of the program, reaching approximately 280 births each year.
“Increasing the Rx Kids program means reaching more families at moments that matter most,” said Jameca Patrick-Singleton, Executive Director of Cradle Kalamazoo. “This expansion reflects our belief that every birthing family and baby in our community deserves the full measure of support, dignity, and care.”
Direct support from Rx Kids helps families cover essentials like diapers, formula, rent, and transportation to prenatal care, reducing financial stress and supporting healthier pregnancies and early childhood outcomes.
A recent peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet Public Health provides rigorous, population-level evidence that Rx Kids improves birth outcomes. The study found that in Flint, the program was associated with significant reductions in preterm birth and low birthweight, along with fewer admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The findings demonstrate that direct support during pregnancy and infancy can lead to measurable improvements in maternal and infant health.
The program has also demonstrated improvements in family financial stability, reduced child welfare investigations, improved maternal mental health and meaningful economic benefits, with millions of dollars flowing directly into local businesses and communities.
“The expansion of the Rx Kids program marks a significant achievement as we work to establish a thriving community for all,” said Dr. Grace Lubwama, President/CEO of Kalamazoo Community Foundation. “We know that our communities are made stronger when families are supported. Rx Kids is helping to do just that, ensuring our mothers and babies have access to the critical resources they need during one of the most significant times in their lives.”
Today’s launch follows a previous announcement by Governor Gretchen Whitmer that this life-changing maternal and infant health program will roll out to an additional 20 communities this summer, bringing the total to more than 60 communities statewide, reaching over 23,000 births each year. Enrollment also begins today for residents in the Cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights in Muskegon County, and the City of Jackson and Blackman Charter Township in Jackson County.
Eligible participants must be at least 16 weeks pregnant at enrollment, and newborns must be born on or after June 1, 2026. To learn more or enroll, visit RxKids.org.
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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.
