Residents of the Cities of Benton Harbor, Niles, Buchanan, and Benton Charter Township will soon be eligible for Rx Kids
In partnership with the Berrien County Health Department, Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program announced the launch in the cities of Benton Harbor, Niles, Buchanan, and Benton Charter Township. Beginning January 12, pregnant mothers in these communities can apply to receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months of their child’s life.
Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids has already reached nearly 5,000 families with over $20 million in direct support. Michigan lawmakers made a historic $250 million bipartisan investment in the 2025–2026 state budget to expand the program across the state. Despite recent setbacks from the House Appropriations Committee’s decision to pull back 2024-2025 funding—which could limit expansion for 6,000 Michigan babies—Rx Kids is working to expand and ensure moms and babies across the state receive the support they need as quickly and efficiently as ever.
“It has been a true joy working alongside Berrien County leaders and local partners to expand Rx Kids,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “Together, we’re delivering proven support that strengthens family financial security, promotes healthy beginnings for babies, and builds more resilient communities.”
“Expanding Rx Kids into the cities of Benton Harbor, Niles and Buchanan and Benton Charter Township helps ensure more local families have access to early support during pregnancy and infancy,” Berrien County Health Department Health Officer Guy Miller said. “In communities with some of the highest infant mortality rates in Berrien County, this kind of early investment can reduce barriers and support healthier starts for children.”
With nearly full enrollment, communities participating in Rx Kids are seeing dramatic improvements in both family financial stability and maternal and infant health, including fewer premature and low birth weight babies and reduced NICU admissions. Recent research shows a reduction in infant maltreatment allegations, alongside strengthened maternal mental health and improved access to care. These outcomes highlight that direct relief to families has a multiplier effect, improving health outcomes, saving millions in health care costs, and fueling local economic growth that strengthens small businesses, entire communities, and ultimately the state.
“Rx Kids is a perfect example of what it means to invest in people,” said state Rep. Joey Andrews (D–St. Joseph). “By putting resources directly into the hands of families and new mothers, we not only improve maternal and infant health outcomes but also give the next generation a stronger, healthier start. I’m thrilled to see Rx Kids launch in Berrien County and hopeful that this program can expand to support even more families across Southwest Michigan.”
Rx Kids is a program led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly. Local Community Champion, Berrien County Health Department, will support outreach, engagement, and celebration.
A public-private partnership, the initiative is made possible thanks to support from the State of Michigan, the Sam Fund at the Indianapolis Foundation, the Berrien Community Foundation, and Corewell Health Lakeland. The Berrien Community Foundation will serve as local fiduciary and welcomes contributions to ensure the sustainability of the program in these Berrien County communities.
“At the Sam Fund, our core values are kindness, caring, freedom, along with personal and fiscal responsibility,” said Alan Mussman, Donor Advisor for the Sam Fund at the Indianapolis Foundation. “Rx Kids reflects all of these principles; it’s a grand slam. As far as we’re concerned, Rx Kids is great news for Berrien County. We all do better when we all do better.”
“What drew Berrien Community Foundation to support the Rx Kids program is that, while new and innovative, it is backed by data,” said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “The program is shown to strengthen families and save money in the long run. We are making smart investments in healthy families.”
Enrollment will open at 9 am on January 12, 2026, for people living in the cities of Benton Harbor, Niles, Buchanan, and Benton Charter Township who are at least 16 weeks pregnant at the time of enrollment or have an infant born on or after January 1, 2026. Families can learn more and apply at RxKids.org.
