GreenLight Invests in the Expansion of RxKids to Detroit

Delivering Groundbreaking Support for Expectant Parents and Infants

RxKids, originally based in Flint, Michigan, is a first-of-its-kind universal basic income initiative for pregnant moms and infants. GreenLight Fund’s support of their expansion to Detroit marks a bold step toward not only family and economic stability, but also health equity in a city facing longstanding disparities in maternal and infant health.

In February, RxKids began providing families in Detroit with $1,500 during pregnancy and $500/month for the first six months of the infant’s life – no strings attached. These monthly cash payments aim to reduce poverty-related stress, increase access to healthcare, and build stronger foundations for long-term child development.

In close collaboration with community leaders, health systems, and civic partners, we selected RxKids following a rigorous year-long diligence process designed to evaluate local fit, long-term sustainability, and measurable community impact. Through this process we ensure programs are deeply rooted, community-supported, and built to last.

“What kept coming up in our community conversations, focus groups, and advisory meetings was the need for guaranteed income,” said Jasahn Larsosa, GreenLight Fund Detroit Executive Director. “The fact that RxKids provides direct cash around child birth, when babies’ needs are the greatest and families’ resources are the most limited, makes this a program that everybody could get behind. We discussed this with everyone, including philanthropic, government, corporate, nonprofit and community leaders and families from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. It was clear, not only was this a program Detroit needed, but it was also an efficient program that works.”

Detroit is now the biggest city in the US to adopt what has become the largest universal maternal and infant cash assistance program, signaling growing national momentum behind income-based public health interventions.

“As a member of the GreenLight Fund Detroit Selection Advisory Council, I was a lead champion for bringing this important program to my home, especially since state law prohibited the commission from including Detroit in its Wayne County allocation months earlier,” said Alisha Bell, Wayne County Commission Chair. “This was a full circle moment of celebration for everyone.”

The program arrives as Detroit remains a city facing the highest rates of child poverty and infant mortality in the country, particularly among Black families. RxKids meets this challenge with a model rooted in evidence and equity.

“RxKids stood out because it is reimagining how society supports families, which is essential to creating the reality Detroit families deserve,” said Kofi Kenyatta, President of the Kenyatta Consulting Group. “Not only does RxKids have a track record of reaching 90 percent of eligible mothers, but 90 percent of GreenLight Fund Detroit’s investment will go directly to families. With no means testing, administrative overhead is minimized and stigma is reduced for participating families. As a member of GreenLight Fund Detroit’s Selection Advisory Council, that level of efficiency was important to me, and I know it also resonated with our partners in the Michigan Legislature.”

“Bringing RxKids to Detroit is a powerful milestone for families and for the city,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, founder and director of RxKids and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “This launch reflects what’s possible when bold public leadership and community-driven investors like GreenLight Fund Detroit come together around evidence and equity. With Mayor Mary Sheffield’s leadership, and GreenLight’s catalytic investment, we’re delivering a proven, efficient program that strengthens family financial security, improves health outcomes, and helps ensure every Detroit baby has the healthiest possible start.”

Participant experience is also a priority. We are monitoring satisfaction with the application, enrollment, and payment process, aiming for 75% satisfaction and strong perceptions of long-term impact.

By anchoring RxKids within a framework of shared accountability, data collection, and cross-sector collaboration, GreenLight Fund ensures this groundbreaking initiative will generate measurable, lasting impact for Detroit’s families.

RxKids represents an essential puzzle piece supporting the financial resilience of Detroit families. Our role is to strengthen Detroit residents’ access to wealth by bringing in proven models that address poverty. Delivering unrestricted cash to babies and parents during this critical period of the family life cycle is a powerful rung in the ladder supporting Detroiters’ rise to prosperity.

RxKids Detroit launched in early February 2026, with ongoing evaluation to track outcomes in maternal health, infant development, and family well-being. The expansion is supported by an unprecedented coalition of public, philanthropic, and nonprofit funders, including GreenLight Fund Detroit, The Skillman Foundation, the City of Detroit, The Children’s Foundation of Michigan, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Skyline Foundation, Ballmer Group, General Motors, Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, Huntington Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

“The collaborative funding effort, uniting public and private sector partners to support the expansion of RxKids to Detroit, marks a critical step forward,” said Dr. Kelly Brittain, Vice President of Impact at The Children’s Foundation of Michigan. “By investing in this expansion, partners are helping to create the conditions for healthier pregnancies, stronger starts for infants, and improved long‑term wellbeing for moms and babies across Detroit.”

RxKids joins GreenLight Fund Detroit’s growing portfolio of evidence-based, equity-centered solutions built in partnership with Detroiters, and reflects the organization’s deep commitment to long-term, community-driven change.