The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced a $200,000 donation to Rx Kids.
Since March 1, 2025, Rx Kids has prescribed eligible mothers in five counties of the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP) $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month throughout the baby’s first six months of life—no-strings-attached. As Rx Kids nears its six-month milestone in the EUP, it will have the first group of moms and babies graduate from this historic program. A recent survey conducted by Rx Kids provides valuable insights into how the program is impacting the lives of EUP families.
To date, Rx Kids has reached more than 320 families, prescribing more than $800,000 in cash prescriptions to moms and babies in five counties in the EUP — Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft. The impact is already clear: families are reporting improved health, financial stability, and greater confidence in their ability to care for their children.
“Rx Kids is a prescription for health, hope, and opportunity—and the families of the Eastern Upper Peninsula are proving it. In just six months, we’ve seen how trust and support helps parents navigate life’s challenges, and how that strength translates into thriving, healthier children,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Originally launched in Flint, Michigan in 2024, Rx Kids has expanded to Kalamazoo, Pontiac, five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and earlier this month to Clare County. Expansion of the program into the EUP significantly broadened the program’s geography and allowed Rx Kids to reach rural communities in Michigan for the first time.
“Rx Kids is a game-changer for rural families in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. In just six months, we’ve seen how targeted, local investment can strengthen families and improve health outcomes,” said State Sen. John Damoose (R-37). “As I’ve shared with my colleagues in the Legislature, this program is about empowering parents, respecting personal responsibility, and delivering real results where they’re needed most.”
Rx Kids provides unconditional cash support to pregnant mothers and infants—helping families meet basic needs, access healthcare, and navigate life’s challenges with greater stability and dignity. Families are using their monthly cash prescriptions for essentials like baby supplies, food, utilities, and rent — making healthier choices and feeling more secure during a critical time in their lives.
In May 2025, a survey of Rx Kids participants in the EUP found the following impacts:
- 84% say Rx Kids helps them make ends meet financially
- 47% experienced a “financial shock” (most commonly reported were auto, rent/utilities, job loss, basic expenses, and moving). Of those, 72% used Rx Kids payments to mitigate the financial shock
- 65% say the program made it easier to access healthcare
- 93% of participants say they attended at least 3 prenatal care appointments in a 3-month period, and 98% attended at least one
- 98% of participants say that they took their Rx Kids infant to at least 1 pediatric appointment
- 68% agreed that Rx Kids has helped improve their health and their infant’s health
- 76% say Rx Kids helped them take time off work to care for themselves or loved ones
In a powerful demonstration, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians has committed $200,000 to support Rx Kids in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. This investment reflects the Tribe’s deep commitment to maternal and child health, and to uplifting families across the region.
“Rx Kids reflects our commitment to supporting mothers, honoring children, and strengthening families—especially within our Tribal communities,” said Chairman Austin Lowes of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. “With 25% of Rx Kids participants in the Eastern Upper Peninsula identifying as American Indian, this is proving to be a powerful and efficient program for reaching our members at a time of critical need for their families.”
This generous contribution from the Tribe is helping ensure that Rx Kids can continue to reach families with unconditional support during pregnancy and infancy—when it matters most.
Rx Kids is led by Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, and administered by GiveDirectly. The program is made possible with generous support from the State of Michigan and a growing family of funders and supporters. In the EUP, Rx Kids is generously supported by the Bezos Family Foundation, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Perigee Fund, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Superior Health Foundation, and the William J. & Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation.
