Hardship and hope: The relationship between unconditional prenatal and infant cash transfers, economic stability, and maternal mental health and well-being

Objectives: To examine the impact of Rx Kids-a community-wide and unconditional prenatal and infant cash transfer program in Flint, Michigan-on economic stability, maternal mental health, and well-being. 

Methods: Using a difference-in-differences framework, we compared outcomes for surveyed Flint mothers who gave birth before and after Rx Kids implementation to those outside the city. 

Results: Relative to comparisons, mothers exposed to Rx Kids saw improvements in hardship, mental health, and well-being-notably, a 4.2-percentage-point reduction in the risk of eviction (P < .05) and a 14.0-percentage-point reduction in screening positive for postpartum depression (P < .05). Program exposure was associated with increased trust in institutions and feeling loved, hopeful, respected, and valued. 

Conclusions: Rx Kids, the United States' first, to our knowledge, community-wide prenatal and infant cash transfer program, is associated with improved economic stability, mental health, and well-being. Rx Kids' place-based scale provides a replicable model for efficiently addressing perinatal poverty and improving health.