The city of Detroit will soon welcome the Rx Kids program, which gives financial support to pregnant women and new mothers. The program previously launched in other areas of Michigan with the goal of providing assistance to those affected by poverty. Detroit’s Rx Kids program is set to start during the first 100 days of the tenure of Mary Sheffield, the city’s first Black woman mayor.
What is the Rx Kids program?
The Rx Kids program was developed by Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University. It was started to help ease financial challenges met by families before and after the birth of a child.
“Today, we take a step forward in our fight against poverty, and today we affirm that all children deserve a strong start in life and that the health of a city begins with the health of its children,” Sheffield said on Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The program offers $1,500 in cash assistance mid-pregnancy, then $500 a month for at least six months of a baby’s life…