Proven maternal and infant health model born in Flint begins national expansion with Cleveland launch
Rx Kids, the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program, today announced its expansion to Ohio, marking a major milestone in the program’s growth nationwide. Beginning this fall, in partnership with First Year Cleveland, the program will launch in select Cleveland ZIP codes where maternal and infant health disparities are greatest.
Eligible families in participating communities will receive $1,500 during pregnancy followed by $500 each month throughout the baby’s first six months.
Since launching in Michigan in January 2024, Rx Kids has become one of the fastest-growing maternal and infant health initiatives in the United States, expanding to nearly 60 communities, serving more than 15,000 families, and generating a growing body of rigorous evidence demonstrating the health, economic, and community impacts of direct financial support during pregnancy and infancy.
“The best investment we can make in Cleveland’s future is investing in our children from day one,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “We’re proud that Cleveland will become the first community in Ohio—and the first outside Michigan—to launch Rx Kids. This partnership reflects our commitment to giving every child the healthiest possible start while helping position Ohio as a national leader in supporting moms, babies, and families.”
Pregnancy and the earliest months of life represent one of the greatest opportunities to improve lifelong health, yet they are also among the most financially challenging times for families. As parents prepare for a new baby, household expenses rise while many families simultaneously experience a loss of income due to pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, caregiving responsibilities, or limited access to paid family leave.
A growing body of national and global evidence demonstrates that reducing these financial pressures improves maternal and infant health and strengthens families. Emerging findings from Michigan show increased prenatal care, reductions in preterm birth and low birthweight, improved financial stability, fewer Child Protective Services investigations, positive economic impacts, and an early reduction in neonatal mortality following the launch of Rx Kids. These findings demonstrate the potential for place-based investments to improve health at the population level.
“Michigan has shown that it’s possible to improve maternal and infant health at the population level by investing directly in families during pregnancy and infancy,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, Director of Rx Kids and Associate Dean of Public Health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “We’re thrilled to begin our national expansion in neighboring Ohio. Given the Michigan-Ohio rivalry, this may be one thing we can all agree on: every baby deserves a healthy start. We’re honored to partner with Cleveland to help make that happen.”
Although Ohio has made reducing infant mortality a statewide priority, significant disparities remain. In Cleveland, infant mortality remains more than twice the state average, underscoring the need for early, targeted, and proven solutions.
First Year Cleveland will serve as the Community Champion for Rx Kids in Cleveland, leading community outreach, family engagement, and cross-sector collaboration with healthcare providers, local government, and community organizations to ensure the program reaches every eligible family.
Angela Newman-White, Executive Director of First Year Cleveland, said “First Year Cleveland is proud to work in partnership with our community to ensure that every baby celebrates their first birthday. Infant and maternal vitality is greatly influenced by economic stability and far too many families are navigating pregnancy and infancy under significant financial pressure. Rx Kids directly addresses that.”
Rx Kids is administered by GiveDirectly, a global nonprofit that safely and securely delivers direct cash assistance to people living in poverty around the world.
“A parent knows their family’s needs best,” said Emma Kelsey, U.S. Program Director at GiveDirectly. “Rx Kids builds on decades of evidence from around the world showing that unconditional cash allows families to meet their unique needs in ways that improve health, economic stability, and well-being. We are thrilled to bring this vital support to the youngest Clevelanders.”
The Cleveland expansion is made possible through a public-private partnership with foundational support from the City of Cleveland and inaugural donor the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation, alongside philanthropy, community partners, and individual donors.
“At the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation, we believe families are best positioned to know what they need to create a healthy start for their children,” said Laura O’Neill Bower, Board Chair of the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation. “Rx Kids’ direct cash support empowers parents during one of life’s most important moments, providing flexible resources that strengthen family well-being from the very beginning. This investment reflects our mission to support effective community partnerships that advance health, safety, and empowerment, and our vision of strong communities where every family can greet each day with hope, purpose, and peace. We are proud to help bring this innovative model to Cleveland and support healthier beginnings for children and families across our community.”
The program will launch this fall in Cleveland’s highest-need ZIP codes. Additional public and philanthropic investment will help accelerate the program’s expansion to more Cleveland families. To give every Cleveland baby a healthy start, donations can be made at https://www.givedirectly.org/rxkids-cleveland.
Stay tuned for the official launch date announcement. Learn more at RxKids.org.
