Pregnant women in Oshtemo Township will be eligible to receive up to $4,500 in direct cash payments starting June 1, as the Rx Kids prenatal assistance program expands into Kalamazoo County.
The program will deliver $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for the first year of a child's life. Eligible participants must be at least 16 weeks pregnant at enrollment, and newborns must be born on or after June 1, 2026. Families can enroll at RxKids.org.
Why the money matters
The Rx Kids program was launched in Flint in early 2024 as the United States' first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription initiative. A study published in The Lancet Public Health on May 27 found the program produced measurable improvements in birth outcomes.
Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan analyzed approximately 4,500 births in Flint between January 2021 and June 2025. The study found the program achieved:
- An 18% reduction in preterm births
- A 27% decline in low birthweight cases
- An approximate 29% decrease in neonatal intensive care unit admissions
"Poverty operates as a potent pathogen detrimental to maternal and infant health," said Dr. Mona Hanna, the program's architect and associate dean at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. "The Rx Kids initiative demonstrates that direct cash assistance during pregnancy and infancy not only alleviates financial hardship but also tangibly reduces medical complications and facilitates a healthier start for children across entire populations."
How Oshtemo fits into the expansion
Rx Kids is already active in the City of Kalamazoo. The expansion into Galesburg, Oshtemo Township, and Wakeshma Township brings the program to three new Kalamazoo County communities.
The expansion is funded by the State of Michigan, the Stryker Johnston Foundation, and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. The foundation will serve as local fiduciary and is accepting contributions to ensure program sustainability, according to WKZO.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in May that the program would roll out to an additional 20 communities statewide this summer, bringing the total to more than 60 communities and reaching over 23,000 births each year, officials said in a release.
What families reported
Prior research on the program documented near-universal participation within targeted communities. Families reported improved housing stability, reduced food insecurity, better maternal mental health, and greater trust in healthcare institutions, according to the Lancet study.
There was also a documented decrease in prenatal smoking among participants. The study attributed these behavioral changes to the financial stability the cash transfers provided during a period when household income often drops while expenses surge.
Oshtemo Township residents who meet the eligibility requirements can begin applying June 1. The program is administered by GiveDirectly, a global organization that specializes in unconditional cash transfer programs, and led by Michigan State University.