Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has committed $200,000 to Rx Kids

What's happening: The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has committed $200,000 to Rx Kids, a program designed to provide financial support to families during pregnancy and early childhood. The initiative has already reached 323 families across Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft, and Chippewa counties in its first six months, with Native American families making up roughly a quarter of participating families. 

The impact: Approximately 84 percent of participating mothers say Rx Kids helps them make ends meet, while 68 percent report improvements in both their health and their infant's health, underscoring the correlation between financial stability and physical health and nutrition. Families primarily use the cash allowances for baby supplies, food, utilities, rent, and clothing—underscoring the program’s role in covering essential needs.  

What is Rx Kids: Rx Kids is the nation’s first maternal and infant cash allowance program. Launched in 2024, the program was created through a partnership between the city of Flint, the Genesee Health System, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, with support from state, local, and philanthropic partners. The initiative provides no-strings-attached stipends to pregnant women and new mothers, beginning with a lump sum during pregnancy followed by monthly payments through the baby’s first year. Early surveys indicate the program is easing financial strain, allowing caregivers to provide more stable, less stressful environments for newborns. The program is modeled after common assistance programs in European, Asian and African countries, which has shown similar data.

What they're saying: “The Sault Tribe is proud to stand behind the Rx Kids program because it provides real, immediate relief for families when they need it most,” said Chairman of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Austin Lowes. “Development experts agree that 85% of brain development occurs before age five, and the stressors that parents may face during and immediately after pregnancy — housing insecurity, lack of access to health care, income instability — can disrupt that development. By investing in our children at their most important stage of development, we are helping to build a stronger future for our community.”

What's next: The partnership between the Sault Tribe and Rx Kids continues to be the first opportunity for Upper Peninsula families to take part. Organizers with Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative, Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan and GiveDirectly continue efforts for administration of the program. For information on the program, visit www.rxkids.org.