Cash support for families linked to improved newborn survival
Unconditional cash transfers can improve birth outcomes and neonatal survival. In Flint, Michigan, the Rx Kids program provided direct financial support to pregnant people and families with infants and was associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality.
The approach removes eligibility requirements and other barriers to assistance. By reducing financial strain during pregnancy and infancy, the program may help families secure essential needs such as food, housing, and medical care, although the specific mechanisms behind the observed improvement require further study.