MSU’s Rx Kids launches in 10 more northern Michigan counties, covering entire UP 

In its largest geographic expansion yet, Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program is officially open to families in all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, tripling from five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to regionwide coverage. 

Starting today, families who are expecting (must be at least 16 weeks pregnant) or with a baby born March 1, 2026, or later and reside in Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, and Ontonagon counties can apply at RxKids.org. Once verified, families receive $1,500 prenatally and $500 per month for a baby’s first six months.

Today’s announcement comes less than a month after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the next major expansion of Rx Kids would extend the program across the rest of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The announcement also comes exactly one year after Rx Kids launched in five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

“Michigan is leading the nation by giving moms and babies the support they need to thrive,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Rx Kids is an innovative, bipartisan program designed to improve health outcomes and reduce child poverty, the first of its kind in the country. With today’s expansion across the entire Upper Peninsula, Yoopers who are expecting or have a newborn can get up to $4,500 to help lower the cost of welcoming a new family member into their lives. We’re working together to help Michigan families, whether they live in our largest city or our smallest towns, raise their children with confidence. We’ll stay focused on investing in Michigan’s children this year, building on our work to deliver pre-K for all, free school meals, and a tuition-free path to a degree and a good-paying job. In Michigan, we believe that every kid deserves a bright future.”

With the recent expansion to the city of Detroit and now across the entire Upper Peninsula, Rx Kids will reach more than 18,000 babies born each year, showing how Michigan continues to set the national standard for innovative, efficient, evidence-informed policy that improves health outcomes, strengthens families and builds stronger communities.

“As someone who lived in Houghton as a kid, it’s incredibly exciting and meaningful to bring Rx Kids to 10 new counties across the UP,” said Mona Hanna, founder and director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “These are the places that shaped me, tightknit communities filled with resilience, heart and a deep commitment to caring for one another. Being able to deliver a program that brings real health, hope and opportunity to families here feels like coming full circle. It’s an honor to help ensure that every child born in the UP has the support they need to thrive, right from the start.”

Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids delivers direct support during the prenatal and infancy period, which is one of the most financially challenging and critical for child development. This support helps families afford essentials such as baby supplies, food, housing, childcare and transportation to doctor’s appointments.

Early results from Rx Kids communities across Michigan show near-universal enrollment, improved family stability, reduced financial stress and better health for moms and babies, while also generating local economic benefits, as dollars flow directly into neighborhood businesses.

“Our mission in public health is to safeguard and strengthen the well-being of our residents by providing education, prevention and meaningful support,” said Nick Derusha, director and health officer, LMAS District Health Department. “We understand both the strengths of our region and the challenges families face when accessing services in rural and remote areas. Programs like Rx Kids help give new parents practical resources during a critical time, contributing to healthier starts for babies and stronger outcomes for families across our counties.”

A model of efficiency and program integrity, Rx Kids is led by Michigan State University and administered by GiveDirectly, the global leader in cash transfers. Local community champions for Rx Kids in the 10 new UP counties include Dickinson-Iron District Health Department, Marquette County Health Department, Public Health of Delta and Menominee Counties, and Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. LMAS District Health Department will serve as a regional champion for Rx Kids in the UP, building on more than a year of success in support outreach, engagement and celebration in the Eastern UP.  

“As a lifelong UP resident and as a teacher and legislator, I see many signs of the negative impact of our declining population,” said state Sen. Ed McBroom. “As a father of five, I understand how important financial stability is and how a new baby impacts a household. Expanding Rx Kids across the Upper Peninsula will not only support parents and newborns, it will also infuse dollars directly into local communities. Hopefully, it will be a beginning to seeing our population trend reversed. Most importantly, it helps moms and babies get a very healthy start.”

The initiative is made possible thanks to funding from the state of Michigan, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, Keweenaw Community Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation, Perigee Fund, and Superior Health Foundation, which will also serve as regional fiduciary for this public-private partnership.

“From the moment we helped launch Rx Kids in the Eastern UP, I have been looking forward to the day when this support could reach all seven counties in our service area,” said Austin Lowes, chairperson of the Sault Tribe. “We have seen firsthand the powerful impact this program has during pregnancy and infancy, providing financial stability for mothers in our tribe and improving health outcomes. We are grateful to see this opportunity extended across the entire UP.”

As a public-private partnership, Rx Kids is funded through both public investment and philanthropic leadership. In a historic bipartisan commitment, the state of Michigan invested $250 million to expand the program to additional high-need communities over the next three years. Although a recent House Appropriations Committee decision to reduce 2024–25 funding limits expansion, Rx Kids continues to progress, collaborating with partners across sectors to ensure mothers and babies receive timely, effective support when it matters most.

For more information, to donate, and to apply, visit RxKids.org.