Rx Kids in Michigan
The State of Michigan has made a bold, historic investment in families — supporting the expansion of Rx Kids, the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program.
Launched in 2024, Rx Kids provides support of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for babies during the first 6-12 months of life. The program has already reached thousands of families in Michigan, delivering financial relief and supporting healthier moms and babies.
Over the next three years, Rx Kids aims to expand to dozens of new communities in Michigan.
We’re thrilled to quickly expand this proven, plug-and-play model to more communities across the state. Check the list of current Rx Kids Communities.
Not in Michigan? Check out our Start-Up Guide for more information on how to bring Rx Kids to your city, county, or state.
Expanding Rx Kids to More Michigan Communities
Rx Kids is designed for entire communities—whether that’s a zip code, city, or county.
The program prioritizes communities with the highest need, as measured by key indicators of child poverty and maternal and infant health.
Rx Kids is an innovative public-private partnership, combining public funding from state, federal, and municipal sources with private support from philanthropy, businesses, and health care systems. In Michigan, historic investment from the state provides significant funding, however additional match funding is needed to launch Rx Kids in new communities.
Rx Kids can provide a community-specific funding summary that includes estimated birth numbers, Medicaid birth rates (a good indicator of high-need), and the match funds needed to launch in your Michigan community.
How it Works
Rx Kids is plug-and-play which means it’s already built and ready.
Rx Kids is a program led by Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, and administered by GiveDirectly.
Rx Kids provides the core support – including operations, enrollment, research, reporting, and communication tools. Our enrollment and cash delivery systems ensure the highest standards of security, privacy, and program integrity – while maximizing efficiency and decreasing administrative burden. In each community, Rx Kids partners with local community experts to ensure the program is successful.
Partnering with Rx Kids in Your Community
Rx Kids is a movement, we want to reach every mom and baby in a community. Rx Kids partners with a Community Champion in every site to ensure strong uptake and to celebrate moms, babies, and families by hosting annual baby parades and other family-oriented events. Community Champions are local organizations with the capacity to support outreach, engagement, and celebration for at least three years. In current Rx Kids communities, Community Champions have included baby-loving local health departments, municipalities, nonprofits, and more.
In addition to the Community Champion in each community, there may be unlimited Rx Kids Stakeholders! Rx Kids Stakeholders come alongside Community Champions to help promote the program in their community.
Learn More About Bringing Rx Kids to Your Community
All communities interested in bringing Rx Kids to your community are encouraged to attend our upcoming webinar.
Webinar for Interested Communities: Wednesday, January 14 | 3:30–4:30 PM ET
For those unable to attend, view a recording from a previous webinar.
Community Application
Who should apply? The organization/entity willing to be the Community Champion is encouraged to apply. The applicant should be prepared to answer simple questions about what makes their community high need, the amount of match funds secured or in process, and community interest.
- Community Applications are OPEN!
- Applications are due by 5pm on February 14, 2026.
- Applications will be reviewed across February & March; applicants may be contacted with questions.
- Notification of outcome by March 31, 2026.
- Communities LAUNCH during 2026 and beyond!
- Stay tuned for additional application waves.
Community Selection
Rx Kids communities will be selected based on:
- Demonstration of high-need
- Match funds committed or in-process (totaling the match funds needed for at least one year)
- Identified community interest/community champion
Community selection will be informed by MDHHS and a multi-sector Advisory Committee of statewide health and human services champions.
