SAULT STE. MARIE – The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced this week that it will make a $200,000 donation to Rx Kids, helping ensure families in the region have greater access to resources during pregnancy and early childhood.

Rx Kids, led by Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative in collaboration with Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, and administered by GiveDirectly, provides cash payments to pregnant women and families with newborns, helping them cover costs such as baby supplies, food, housing, utilities and other necessities during the earliest months of a child’s life. Pregnant mothers in the eastern Upper Peninsula receive a one-time $1,500 payment, followed by $500 per month for the first six months of their child’s life.

“The Sault tribe is proud to stand behind the Rx Kids program because it provides real, immediate relief for families when they need it most,” said Austin Lowes, chairman of the Sault tribe. “Development experts agree that 85% of brain development occurs before age five, and the stressors that parents may face during and immediately after pregnancy — housing insecurity, lack of access to health care, income instability — can disrupt that development. By investing in our children at their most important stage of development, we are helping to build a stronger future for our community.”

Since its launch, Rx Kids has been praised for reducing family stress, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthening local economies. The program is backed by philanthropic partners, state leaders, and healthcare advocates who recognize the importance of investing in children from the very beginning.

In the first six months of the program’s availability in the eastern U.P. counties of Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft, and Chippewa, it has served 323 families, 25% of which are Native American. Initial surveys from program participants show the cash allowances are resulting in a more stable home environment for newborns allowing for less stress and more caregiver interaction.

Eighty-four percent of participating moms in the region reported that Rx Kids helps them make ends meet financially, and 68% agreed that Rx Kids has helped improve their health and their infant’s health. The top five things moms report using Rx Kids cash for is baby supplies, food, utilities, rent and clothing.

“Partnerships like this are essential,” Lowes added. “When tribal, state and local governments come together to support families, we all benefit.”

For more information on Rx Kids, visit www.rxkids.org.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500, extension 544. His email is bsargent@miningjournal.net.