Rx Kids expansion to offer direct assistance for Berrien County mothers

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Expecting and new mothers in Niles, Benton Harbor, Buchanan and Benton Charter Township will soon be eligible for direct financial support through an expansion of the RX Kids program, officials announced Wednesday.

The program, which launched in Flint, will allow pregnant women in 30 Michigan communities to apply for assistance with no income requirements. Applicants only need proof of pregnancy.

“There’s no income eligibility requirement. It is for every single pregnant resident of these four jurisdictions,” said Alyssa Stewart, director of philanthropic partnerships for RX Kids. “Having a baby is expensive for everyone, and every family needs this support.”

The expansion is made possible through partnerships, including the Berrien County Health Department and $250 million in bipartisan state funding allocated over the next three years.

Lisa Cripps Downey of the Berrien Community Foundation highlighted the need for assistance in these communities, ““For communities have our highest rate of Medicaid so all of these communities at 70% or higher of Medicaid first so that we know that there’s a lot of financial we also know that when you have a baby that’s really expensive,” she said.

Candious Clabin, an expecting mother in Benton Harbor, said the program comes at a critical time after being told she and her husband might never conceive, she became pregnant unexpectedly while enrolled in nursing school.

Now seven months along,she’s taken the semester off nursing school and is counting down the days until her and her fiancé can meet their baby boy!

“As prepared as we can feel, it never really feels like we’re prepared,” Clabin said, noting the rising costs of essentials such as a car seat, crib and changing table.

Mothers like Clabin, will receive $1,500 in prenatal support, followed by $500 per month for the first six months of the child’s life.

“We are very blessed to have this come to the community,” Clabin said.

Applications open online at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12.

More information can be found here.