Flint Program for New Moms Put on Ice After Lansing Funding Cut

A program born in Flint to help struggling new mothers is now in limbo after lawmakers in Lansing pulled the plug on its funding.

The program, known as Rx Kids, was designed to provide direct cash assistance to pregnant women and new mothers, with Flint serving as the pilot city. The goal was simple. Put money directly in the hands of families during pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life, when costs and stress are highest.

That plan hit a wall when Michigan House Republicans removed roughly $18.5 million in funding during recent budget negotiations. The cut effectively froze plans to expand the program and raised questions about whether Flint’s version can continue long-term.

Supporters say the decision is especially hard to swallow for Flint, a city still dealing with the long-term impacts of the water crisis, higher poverty rates, and public health challenges. Rx Kids had been promoted as a rare example of Flint leading the state with an idea that could be replicated elsewhere.

Critics of the cut argue that lawmakers had no problem funding other priorities but drew the line at direct aid to low-income mothers. They say the move sends a clear message about which communities and families are considered expendable when budgets get tight.

Backers of the funding reduction say the state cannot afford ongoing cash programs without clearer limits and accountability. That explanation has done little to calm anger in Flint, where many residents see the cut as Lansing once again balancing the books on the backs of vulnerable families.

For now, the future of Rx Kids in Flint remains uncertain. What is certain is that a program created to give local families a leg up has become the latest flashpoint in the city’s long-running fight for trust, stability, and support from state leaders.