Enrollment opens for residents in the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights
Rx Kids, the nation’s first-ever community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program, is open for enrollment to eligible residents in the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights in Muskegon County.
Rx Kids is a place-based program designed to improve maternal and infant health by addressing the economic hardship families face during pregnancy and infancy. Eligible families in the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights will receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first 6 months of a child’s life.
“We know that early, direct support works—and it matters most in communities facing the greatest need,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, Director of Rx Kids and Associate Dean of Public Health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “Expanding Rx Kids to the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights is both urgent and impactful. This investment along the West Michigan lakeshore is about improving maternal and infant health today while building stronger, more equitable communities for the future.”
In the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, the initiative is made possible thanks to support from the State of Michigan, the City of Muskegon, Community Foundation for Muskegon County, and many individual donors.
“The expansion of Rx Kids to Muskegon and Muskegon Heights means families will have additional support right from the start,” said Mayor Ken Johnson, City of Muskegon. “Early investments in babies and moms help strengthen families and build stronger communities.”
Rx Kids is led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly. The City of Muskegon will serve as the local Community Champion, supporting outreach, engagement, and celebration. The Community Foundation for Muskegon County will serve as local fiduciary.
“Rx Kids is about more than just supporting families—it’s about strengthening the whole community,” said Todd Jacobs, President/CEO, Community Foundation for Muskegon County. “When we invest in children and families from the very beginning, the impact goes far beyond any one household, creating lasting economic and social benefits for everyone. Bringing this program to Muskegon reinforces our commitment to leading community philanthropy and building a vibrant community – a future where every child, and every neighborhood, has the chance to thrive.”
Direct support from Rx Kids helps families cover essentials like diapers, formula, rent, and transportation to prenatal care, reducing financial stress and supporting healthier pregnancies and early childhood outcomes.
A recent peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet Public Health provides rigorous, population-level evidence that Rx Kids improves birth outcomes. The study found that in Flint, the program was associated with significant reductions in preterm birth and low birthweight, along with fewer admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The findings demonstrate that direct support during pregnancy and infancy can lead to measurable improvements in maternal and infant health.
The program has also demonstrated improvements in family financial stability, reduced child welfare investigations, improved maternal mental health and meaningful economic benefits, with millions of dollars flowing directly into local businesses and communities.
The launch in these communities follows a previous announcement by Governor Gretchen Whitmer that this life-changing maternal and infant health program will roll out to an additional 20 communities this summer, bringing the total to more than 60 communities statewide, reaching over 23,000 births each year. Enrollment also begins today for residents in the City of Jackson and Blackman Charter Township in Jackson County, and the City of Galesburg and Oshtemo and Wakeshma Townships in Kalamazoo County.
Eligible participants must be at least 16 weeks pregnant at enrollment, and newborns must be born on or after June 1, 2026. To learn more or enroll, visit RxKids.org.
