Hey BridgeDetroit readers! 👋
A cash aid program for moms and babies now running in 11 communities across Michigan, from parts of the eastern Upper Peninsula to metro Detroit, is linked with some promising outcomes, according to early research out of Flint, where it first began more than a year ago.
Researchers found a drastic drop in evictions and fewer preterm births and neonatal intensive care unit admissions.
Leaders of Rx Kids, which offers $1,500 mid-pregnancy and then $500 a month up to a year of the baby’s life in certain Michigan communities, released two research papers this month evaluating how the program affects economic stability, maternal mental health and birth outcomes in Flint, where roughly a third of the population lives below poverty.
The findings come as the cash aid initiative spreads to other parts of the state — most recently in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township — and proposed legislation seeks to take the program statewide.
The question remains: will Detroit get Rx Kids?
Read the latest in our ongoing coverage on cash aid and how it impacts Michigan’s youngest.
On Your Radar
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALIES: A rash of killings tied to domestic violence in recent weeks has prompted calls for stronger protections. LEARN MORE.
TECH STARTUP FUND: What’s billed as Detroit’s first tech startup up fund awarded $300,000 to an inaugural batch of 13 companies, from a pool of 600 applications. LEARN MORE.
HOME HEATING CREDIT: With the colder months approaching, Michiganders can save money on their heating costs by claiming a tax credit. Eligible homeowners and renters have until Sept. 30 to apply for the home heating credit. LEARN MORE.
LIBRARY NEWS: The Detroit Public Library’s Sherwood Forest Branch is reopening Monday, Sept. 22, after a summer closure for maintenance. The facility has new windows and the air conditioning system has been repaired. The building, which opened in 1957, is located at 7117 W. Seven Mile Road near Livernois. HERE ARE THE HOURS.
Nushrat Rahman
Economic Mobility Reporter, BridgeDetroit and Detroit Free Press
