Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible families living in Battle Creek, Albion, Springfield and Sheridan Township can enroll in RX Kids, a maternal and infant cash prescription program that provides $1,500 during pregnancy, followed by $500 per month during a child’s first six months of life.
The Battle Creek Community Foundation is serving as the local fiduciary for the initiative, working alongside Grace Health, which is leading local outreach and community engagement, Michigan State University, GiveDirectly and public and private partners bringing the program to Calhoun County.
“What stands out to me most is just how much this moment says about what we can accomplish when a community comes together around a common purpose,” said Mary Muliett, president and CEO of the Battle Creek Community Foundation. “RX Kids is an investment in babies and families, and it’s an investment in the future of our communities.”
The initiative is supported through a public-private partnership that includes Michigan State University, GiveDirectly, Grace Health, the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Albion Community Foundation, the United Way of South Central Michigan, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, local governments and other community partners.
“When our families are stronger, our communities are stronger,” Muliett said. “When parents have greater financial stability, babies have a better start, and when organizations work together around a shared goal, we can create opportunities and outcomes that none of us could achieve alone.”
Founded in Flint, RX Kids is expanding across Michigan through public-private partnerships that invest in healthier births, stronger families and improved outcomes for children.
RX Kids Director Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and associate dean at Michigan State University, said Calhoun County stood out for how quickly the community came together to support the initiative.
“This is a community that came together and raised their hand and said yes, we can do better for our mamas and our babies,” Hanna said.
The launch also highlighted the families the program is designed to serve. Chloe Ammerman, a Battle Creek preschool teacher expecting her second child, attended with her 2-year-old son, Greyson. She said her family plans to apply when enrollment opens July 1. “For me, this kind of helps just to ease the stress,” Ammerman said.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
RX Kids in Calhoun County is supported through a public-private partnership led by Michigan State University and GiveDirectly, with Grace Health serving as the community champion. Funding and local support are provided by the State of Michigan, Albion Community Foundation, Battle Creek Community Foundation, BBCH Community Partners, Bronson Health System, Bronson Health Foundation, Duncan Aviation, Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation, Miller Foundation, United Way of South Central Michigan, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, WK Kellogg Co/Ferrero and Worgess Insurance.