Jolene “JoJo” Love Caldwell will never have to worry about people remembering her birthday. Born on May 4, 2024, baby JoJo, as her mom Angela Sintery points out, is her “May the Fourth Be With You” baby.
Since her birth, the family has settled in comfortably.
“The best part is just knowing I have this little human to take care of and love, who needs me,” Sintery said. “We have music and I sing to her every morning. We are on a nice routine so far.”
That doesn’t mean Sintery was expecting to have another child, though – “I found out I was pregnant, and my first thought was, ‘It has been 19 years since I’ve been a mom to a newborn baby.’”
Sintery was experiencing feelings of excitement combined with worry related to the costs of a child. That’s where Rx Kids came in.
“I’m a teacher, so we don’t make a lot of money,” Sintery said. “When I first found out, I thought, ‘Oh, what am I going to do?’ I was invited to apply for Rx Kids and I thought it was such a blessing, it has helped me feel more secure and confident that I’m able to provide all the clothes, furniture, and many other things for my daughter that babies need. I’m very grateful for it.”
Taking care of children comes naturally for Sintery, who, for 12 years, has worked as a preschool teacher at the University of Michigan-Flint’s Early Childhood Development Center.
“I received my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, and since then have dedicated everything to teaching,” Sintery said.
Angela Sintery, left, and baby Jolene Love Caldwell with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Luke Shaefer at the Flint Rx Kids Baby Parade on June 11, 2024.
Jolene “JoJo” Love Caldwell is Flint Rx Kids ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ baby.
Rx Kids, which launched in January of 2024, has already served more than 700 families in Flint and provided more than $1.5 million in cash payments to support Flint moms and babies. Dr. Mona Hanna, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Public Health in the College of Human Medicine and Director of the Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative and director of Flint Rx Kids, is pleased with the progress of the program and how it is providing immediate support to families and children.
“In addition to raising their own children, moms in Flint have always played critical roles as teachers, medical assistants, caregivers, and in other professions and volunteer roles that make our community healthy and thriving,” Dr. Mona said. “Being able to provide relief to ease the burdens on our working moms and their families and to see immediate, positive results from that support is exactly what Rx Kids was created to do.”
Rx Kids cash prescriptions have helped mothers who have lost income due to not being able to work as much during high-risk pregnancies, they’ve helped alleviate high costs for diapers, childcare costs when moms return to work after maternity leave, and other needs, they’ve helped families secure stable housing or transportation or assistance with vital household expenses like food or repairs, and even helped some families look toward the future by beginning to save money for childcare or education costs down the road.
“Rx Kids really just helps you feel like things are going to be OK,” Sintery said. “I am so grateful, and I hope it can be expanded to more mothers everywhere.”