KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – If all goes as planned, Kalamazoo will be the second city in Michigan to have a RX Kids plan.
Flint was the first to come up with the innovative program to provide expectant mothers with cash, to help them get through pregnancy, and the first year of a child’s life. City commissioners committed to putting $1.5-million into the program last night.
Alyssa Stewart with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation says it gets them closer to their goal of $10-million to operate a three year pilot program.
Stewart says the county and the state have already contributed to the fund along with 13 local donors and foundations.
All new moms would get $1,500 during their pregnancy, and $500 each month after birth for a year, for a total of $7,500.
Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess says it will improve the lives of those new families.
Stewart says the early data from Flint, where RX Kids been operating for nearly a year shows it has already produced healthier babies and moms.
Their target date to start enrolling pregnant moms is mid to late February.
University of Michigan researchers will be analyzing the data from the programs in both communities to determine if it works, with a goal to expand it county wide and into other communities.
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