In Flint, Michigan, a city better known for its water crisis than for good health news, a new study is offering a hopeful sign for its youngest residents. Newborn deaths in the city fell by about half after a program that gives cash to expectant mothers and new parents began, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics.
The study, a peer-reviewed research letter published online Nov. 2 and announced by Michigan State University on Nov. 3, looked at Flint’s neonatal death rate, meaning babies who die within the first 28 days of life, before and after the Rx Kids program launched in January 2024.
What the researchers found
Using Michigan birth and death records from 2021 through 2025, researchers compared Flint with the rest of the state:
- Neonatal deaths in Flint fell from 10.2 per 1,000 live births in 2021-2024 to 5.1 per 1,000 in 2025, a 50% drop.
- First-week deaths fell from 7.9 to 2.0 per 1,000 live births, a 74% drop.
- The rest of Michigan stayed roughly flat, at 4.0 and then 3.9 per 1,000.
Before the program, Flint’s newborn death rate was more than double the rest of the state’s. In 2025, for the first time in the study period, the gap was no longer statistically significant.
What Rx Kids does
Rx Kids is a community-wide cash program for mothers and babies. In Flint, it pays $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month through a baby’s first year, with no income limits and no rules on how the money is spent. About 98% of eligible Flint families took part, Medical Daily reported.
The program is led by Michigan State University, administered by the nonprofit GiveDirectly and funded through a public-private partnership that includes state money. It has since expanded to more than 60 communities and served over 18,000 families, though some newer sites pay for six months instead of a full year.
This isn’t the first encouraging finding. An earlier study in The Lancet Public Health linked the program to fewer preterm births (down 18%), fewer low-birth-weight babies (down 27%) and fewer NICU admissions (down about 29%).
Important caveats
The researchers themselves call the findings preliminary, and there are good reasons to read them carefully:
- The numbers are small. Flint had 41 newborn deaths among 4,036 births from 2021 to 2024, and five deaths among 980 births in 2025. One or two deaths more or fewer would noticeably change the rate.
- It can’t prove cause and effect. The study is observational, and the authors say they can’t prove the cash caused the decline. Other changes in the city could play a role.
- Only one year of follow-up. The 2025 data are provisional.
- Author ties. The study team includes members of the Rx Kids program, including its director, Dr. Mona Hanna.
The authors say the next steps are longer follow-up, studies in other communities and research into how cash might help, for example through steadier housing, better food or more prenatal visits. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned how families spend the money, Medical Daily noted, a debate likely to continue as the program grows.
Why it matters for families
The first weeks of a baby’s life are among the most fragile. Whatever the cause of Flint’s improvement, the research is a reminder of what health experts consistently recommend for every pregnancy:
- Start prenatal care early and keep regular appointments.
- Ask your doctor or clinic about local programs that help with food, housing, transportation or diapers.
- Know the warning signs in pregnancy and after birth, and call your doctor right away if something feels wrong.
- After birth, follow your pediatrician’s guidance on newborn care. Our recent report on newborn vitamin K shots explains one common question parents ask.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own pregnancy and your baby’s care.
What to watch next
As Rx Kids expands to more communities, researchers will be able to test whether Flint’s results hold up elsewhere. Upstormed News will follow the research as new data arrive.
What helped your family most in a baby’s first months? Share your advice in the comments.
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Sources: Michigan State University via EurekAlert!, “New research in JAMA Pediatrics finds newborn deaths fell by 50% in Flint following the launch of Rx Kids” (Nov. 3, 2026); Medical Daily, “Flint’s newborn death rate fell by half after Rx Kids launched—but researchers caution the finding is based on just five deaths” (Nov. 2026); Medical Xpress, “Newborn deaths fell by 50% in Flint following the launch of Rx Kids, new research finds” (Nov. 2026).
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