KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo’s Rx Kids pilot program reached its first birthday this week, and most moms are signing up.
94% of the pregnant woman in the city of Kalamazoo have enrolled in the program, which pays them $1500 during pregnancy, and $500 a month for the first year of the baby’s life.
According to the program’s dashboard, it has already given an economic boost to 942 families in Kalamazoo with pregnant moms or newborns.
It has distributed nearly $4 million to those families, to help them pay medical bills, buy baby furniture or whatever else they need.
County board vice chair John Taylor says he’s happy it’s doing so well.
“I was kind of a little bit nervous about that program at first but it’s turning out to actually have a really good impact, so I love it when I’m kind of proven wrong,” Taylor says. “I’m happy that they’re they’re doing great work. I wish it was county wide but it starts small we build out.”
The program was only open to city of Kalamazoo residents in the first year to see if it was worthwhile. There are plans to expand it countywide.
So far, 764 enrolled moms have given birth. Analyzing the success of the program will come after records on their first year of life can be collected and assessed.
A survey of the new mothers provided in their annual report states that most have used the money to ease healthcare costs, and for prenatal care and 83% say the extra income has “helped them feel more confident in caring for their child.”
The hope is that RX Kids will help reduce the local infant mortality rate, which has been disproportionately high here for decades, especially for Black and Latino moms.
The breakdown shows that just under half the enrollees are white, and the vast majority have annual incomes that are below the community average.
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