The recent rollout of the Rx Kids initiative in Wayne County has drawn attention for its efforts to address health and economic challenges facing new mothers. But while the program is reshaping maternal and infant health outcomes in cities throughout the county, Detroit is not among them. Here’s why.
Rx Kids, a pioneering program in partnership with Michigan State University, aims to offer eligible expectant mothers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their newborn baby’s first six months. Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids has reached more than 3,900 families with $17 million in direct cash support. This latest expansion (announced earlier this month) is reaching six select communities—River Rouge, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Melvindale, and Dearborn—thanks to a $7.5 million investment from Wayne County and an additional $250 million in state funding.
These cities were selected based on two critical factors: public health jurisdiction and demonstrated need.
Wayne County’s Health Department, Human Services, and Veterans Services serve communities without their own municipal health departments. Detroit, although geographically located within Wayne County, maintains its own independent health department, which manages programs for its residents. Because of that distinction, Detroit was not eligible under the county-administered Rx Kids launch.
With nearly one-in-three children living below the poverty line, Wayne County has one of the highest child poverty rates in Michigan. The six selected municipalities for Rx Kids are among those with the highest child poverty rates in the county, where families face compounding challenges related to health, housing, and access to care.
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans emphasized the urgency of the intervention and the county’s commitment to meeting families where they are.
“As the top elected official in Wayne County, there was no way I could just sit here and not do anything about the health care crisis that too many of our residents are facing,” Evans said. “Rx Kids can’t solve the entire problem, but it will certainly relieve a significant amount of the burden for quite a few.”
Rx Kids, when launched, became the nation’s first community-wide, no-strings-attached cash support program for new and expectant mothers. With this Wayne County expansion, the program will be available to mothers in 17 Michigan municipalities. Participating areas have reported near-universal enrollment and significant improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes.
Evans further explained the strategic approach behind the initiative: “This is about taking the most direct, efficient and impactful approach to serving those most in need in as timely a manner as we were able to do so,” he said.
Yet perhaps most tellingly, Evans spoke to the human impact: “I might add that contributing to the health of a child that otherwise might have faced daunting challenges is about the best holiday gift I can imagine. Not only for the mother and child, but for those of us who were able to help them”.
Eligible expectant mothers in the six participating Wayne County communities can now apply to receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months of their child’s life. The program delivers direct support during the most critical stage of a child’s development, helping families stabilize and thrive.
Detroit residents seeking maternal and infant health support can access the comprehensive services and resources available through the city’s independent Department of Health, which operates programs tailored specifically to Detroit families’ needs.
