County Commissioners Split Over Prenatal Cash Program Expansion

NEWAYCO, MI — Genesee County commissioners voted 6-3 on Wednesday to approve a nearly $1.3 million expansion of the Rx Kids prenatal cash assistance program, with all three Republican commissioners voting against the measure.

The funding will bring the program to Flint, Genesee, Montrose and Mt. Morris townships and to the cities of Mt. Morris and Montrose.

Each mother in those communities will receive a one-time prenatal payment of $1,500 and monthly payments of $500 for the first six months after the child's birth.

State funds cover roughly 80 percent of program costs, with county funding drawn from Health Department reserves of more than $8 million.

Dr. Mona Hanna, who founded Rx Kids, called the county approval "a huge win for Genesee County babies."

The program expansion could begin as early as August, covering births during three years.

Commissioners could give final approval to the proposal, which would cover three years, when they meet again next week.

Republicans Oppose Geographic Limitations

Commissioners who voted against the expansion said it should be offered across the county and should target those who need help the most, regardless of the community they live in.

Commissioner Gary Goetzinger, R-Burton, said there's no income verification for the program.

"Just because someone lives in Clio — maybe they make a half-million dollars — they qualify, but if you live in a trailer park in Davison, you don't," Goetzinger said.

Commissioner Shaun Shumaker, R-Fenton Township, also questioned the spending, saying it leaves behind families that need help but live in the wrong zip code.

"There are people in need in every corner of this county," Shumaker said.

Commissioner Brian Flewelling, R-Davison, was the third Republican to oppose the measure.

Democrats Cite Evidence of Program Success

Commissioners who voted to approve the program also praised it for delivering data showing Rx Kids has helped families reduce evictions, debt and postpartum depression while improving access to nutritious food and economic stimulus in the target areas.

"We have to do something now," said Commissioner Beverly Brown, D-Flint.

"My strong support for this program comes as a result of the evidence Dr. Mona has been able to provide," Brown said.

Commissioner Martin Cousineau, D-Thetford Township, added that poverty is not just in Flint and needs to be addressed in out-county communities.

"The goal is to bring it across the whole county," Cousineau said.

Program Targets Highest Need Areas

The county expansion covers communities with the highest rates of births covered by Medicaid, which Rx Kids calls a "direct indicator of economic hardship among families with a new birth."

Dr. Hanna said the organization would love to add Burton and Clio if state funds are available.

Additional communities in the county were targeted for the local expansion because of their high rates of births covered by Medicaid.

State Funding Challenges

Despite a clawback of about $16 million in state funding since the appropriation, state funds provide roughly $8 for every $1 in local matching funds.

Hanna noted that state funds are limited, but the current proposal addresses the communities with the most immediate need.

"The poverty is not just in Flint," Cousineau said. "It's in the out-county, and this addresses that. It needs to be addressed. We need to give these children a fighting chance, right from the get-go."

Program Background

Rx Kids launched in Flint in the aftermath of the city's water crisis in January 2024.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine oversees Rx Kids, and the program is administered by GiveDirectly.

The program's stated goal is to spark a national movement to shift more resources directly to families and build stronger futures for children born into poverty.

More than three dozen other communities in the state have joined Rx Kids since its inception, funding programs with local matches and a $250 million state budget appropriation.

Next Steps

Commissioners could give final approval to the proposal when they meet again next week.

The expansion could cover births during three years, potentially reaching thousands of new mothers and babies across Genesee County.

If state matches are available, the program could expand further to include Clio and Burton, which would cost the county an additional nearly $500,000.

Sources:

  • https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2026/04/republicans-not-on-board-but-genesee-county-approves-cash-assistance-program.html
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2026/04/proposed-rx-kids-expansion-might-also-bring-cash-to-new-moms-in-burton-clio.html