LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Lawmakers at the state capitol are weighing whether Michigan should expand a program that gives new parents cash payments with no strings attached.

The Rx Kids program currently operates in Kalamazoo, Pontiac, Clare County, and five counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula, with eight more communities expected to join in the coming months. Pregnant mothers and families with newborns receive monthly payments designed to help cover immediate needs, anything from diapers and formula to rent and transportation.

Dr. Mona Hanna, founder of Rx Kids, said the goal is to remove barriers for mothers before they turn into lifelong obstacles for their children.

“The zip code that you’re born into is one of the greatest predictors of your future health and wealth, and that’s n

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