Michigan is scaling up a groundbreaking program that gives financial relief to expectant and new mothers. The Rx Kids initiative, currently active in 11 communities, provides $1,500 during pregnancy and then $500 per month for up to a year after birth. With a one-time allocation of $270 million from the state budget, its reach is set to expand dramatically over the next three years.

Until now, Rx Kids has distributed over $13 million to more than 3,500 families—helping women in low-income areas get basic needs like food, housing, and infant care without restrictive eligibility checks. This funding boost aims to multiply that impact—potentially reaching 30,000 babies a year, according to program leaders.

Critically, Rx Kids is “unconditional,” meaning families can use the money however they need it—no bureaucratic red tape, no strings attached. Early evaluations in Flint have shown promising results: fewer evictions, reductions in postpartum depression, and lower neonatal intensive care admissions.

This is more than a handout—it’s an investment in maternal, infant, and community health. That’s what’s right with the world.