Kalamazoo Rx Kids
Rx Kids is the nation’s first citywide parent and infant cash prescription program. Rx Kids aims to provide all pregnant people in participating cities with a no-strings-attached cash prescription, reducing financial burdens and empowering parents and guardians with the freedom to make decisions that best fit their families’ needs.
Launched in Flint in January 2024, the Rx Kids team has expanded this historic, life-changing, community-partnered pilot with other Michigan communities, including ours. Rx Kids cash prescriptions are awarded during pregnancy and each month throughout the baby’s first year, providing financial support during the most economically vulnerable and developmentally important time in a family and child’s life.
Kalamazoo Community Foundation holds the local Kalamazoo Rx Kids Fund and is thrilled to play a critical role in an innovative and impactful program that aligns so closely with our mission, vision and strategic goals.
Program at a Glance
$1,500
During pregnancy
+ $500/mo.
For baby’s first year
For Families
Residing in the city of Kalamazoo
For Babies
Born on or after February 1, 2025
Rx Kids Program Details
Eligibililty Criteria
Rx Kids provides unconditional cash payments to ALL pregnant parents and babies in participating communities. You are eligible for Rx Kids if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are a resident of the City of Kalamazoo.
- You are 18 years of age or older or you are 16 years of age and have parental or guardian consent.
- You are currently at least 16 weeks pregnant or you are the guardian of a child 6 months old or younger born on or after February 1, 2025.
Please note, that even if the city name appears in your postal address, you may not reside within official city limits.
People who are pregnant (at 16 weeks or later) or who have a baby born on February 1, 2025 and after will be eligible for some or all cash payments.
Applicants who had a baby between February 1 and February 11, 2025 will be eligible to receive the monthly payments, but the prenatal payment cannot be retroactively received.
To apply for Kalamazoo Rx Kids, you will need to provide documents that verify your eligibility, including:
- Your identity.
- Your residency in the City of Kalamazoo.
- Your pregnancy/guardianship status, including a projected due date or birth that takes place after the launch date of the program. (Births that occur before the program launch date will not be eligible.)
There are a variety of documents that are accepted to verify each of these requirements.
If you are in need of resources now or believe you may not be eligible based on the provided criteria, we encourage you to visit Cradle Kalamazoo for a list of alternative resources. You may complete their intake form if you would like a Cradle Kalamazoo staff person to reach out to you to discuss programs and services available for individuals across Kalamazoo County.
Get started with this application—it’s easy!
The Kalamazoo Rx Kids program is administered by an organization called GiveDirectly, and applications are administered through RxKids.org.
Gather Your Documentation
You will need to verify your identity and residency within the participating location, and there are many accepted verification documents to make this step easy for everyone.
Apply Online
Once you have gathered your documentation, the Rx Kids application is designed to be simple and easy to complete in approx. 15 minutes on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Receive Your Cash Prescription
You can expect to be contacted within two to four weeks of submitting your application. A message will be sent to the email address or mobile phone number that you provided. Payments begin at the point of enrollment.
If you are a new or expecting parent who may be eligible, we encourage you to explore Kalamazoo’s RxKids.org page which has a lot of great information on what is needed to enroll and answers to frequently asked questions.
Be the Village That New Parents Need!
A gift to the Kalamazoo Rx Kids Fund helps support new parents and their families through one of life’s most precious moments.