Overview
- Mayor Mary Sheffield announced the move Monday, with enrollment expected in the next few weeks and no later than her first 100 days in office.
- Eligible mothers will receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month for the baby's first six months, for a total of $4,500 in no-strings cash; sign-up will be online with pregnancy verification and no income test.
- Detroit has raised about $9 million for the local rollout and says another $2.5 million is still needed, alongside the city’s pledged $500,000 annually for three years.
- The rollout is supported by the State of Michigan and partners including The Skillman Foundation, Kresge, Kellogg, Ballmer Group, General Motors and others, with the state budgeting $250 million to expand the program.
- Developed at Michigan State University under Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids launched in Flint in 2024 and is active in several Wayne County communities, with Detroit’s participation expected to reach families of roughly 8,000 babies born in the city each year.