Kinea Wright’s daughter Emani during the Rx Kids Flint 1-year birthday party in January 2025.
Kinea Wright and her family know firsthand that life is full of unexpected challenges.
A proud Flint native, she grew up on the city’s north and south sides. She built a career as a social worker, earning degrees in social work, sociology, and African studies followed by a master’s degree in public administration. She worked full-time in community-serving roles for years. However, health issues forced her to step away from full-time work, a challenge that was compounded after giving birth to daughter Emani last year.
“My doctor told me about Rx Kids when I was pregnant because I was a high-risk patient,” Wright said. “After I had Emani, my husband got injured at work. He hasn’t been able to work and is still undergoing medical treatments. The money from Rx Kids helped to supplement his income and cover a lot of our unexpected expenses. It was a true blessing.”
After once being told she wouldn’t be able to have children due to her health, Wright now has two kids. Emani’s older brother, Taariq, is now nine and was born during the Flint water crisis. Having to balance motherhood with managing her own health has not always been easy, but Wright has found ways to supplement her income while working less and also stays active in the community. She’s had longtime volunteer roles, including as a parent leader through Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD) Head Start and in the Genesee County Local Leadership Group.
“I never planned to get sick. I never planned to have children. But when I found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t going to risk not having him,” she said. “I try my best to provide for them. I do a lot of contract work to help supplement my income as much as possible.”
The support from Rx Kids has allowed the family to meet its needs without additional stress. Dr. Mona Hanna, the pediatrician and public health advocate behind Rx Kids, notes that helping families have the flexibility to manage unplanned emergencies is a core part of the program.
“Rx Kids is about stability, easing burdens, and ensuring that every baby in Flint has a strong start,” Dr. Mona said.” When families are supported financially, we see better health outcomes, less stress, and more opportunities for children to thrive.”
For Wright, the program has helped provide stability during an unpredictable time for her family.
“Nobody has certainty in life. We never know what life is going to throw at us,” she said. “Just that extra bit of financial security can go a long way. Whether you have money or you don’t, expenses come up, emergencies happen. The biggest reward is knowing that people care that the world isn’t as harsh as we sometimes think. There are people out there who want to see us succeed.”
Wright finds immense joy in watching her children grow. Emani recently turned one, and seeing her personality and charm develop has been beautiful to watch.
“She is hilarious,” Wright said. “She wakes up with the biggest smile every morning. She loves to mimic people and even gives hugs and applauds herself for doing it. Every little thing she does brings us so much joy.”
Wright is also excited that Rx Kids is expanding and helping families across Michigan and beyond.
“Mothers, especially new mothers, face so much stress,” Wright said. “Financial strain can be overwhelming, and a lot of people don’t even realize they may be experiencing postpartum depression. If we can remove even one of those stressors, we’re giving families a better chance.”