Universal Maternal & Early Childhood Support Fund
From "Share Your Policy Ideas"
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This program would be a bold, citywide investment in our children and families, and not only could greatly assist current families in St. Louis, but would also attract new families to our city. Modeled on the successful Rx Kids initiative in Flint, Michigan, this program would provide direct, unconditional cash support to all pregnant residents and parents of infants in St. Louis. For more information on the Flint, MI program, please read here.
Every pregnant person in St. Louis would be eligible for the program, regardless of income or eligibility (thus reducing stigma and encouraging growth in the program). Sign-ups would be streamlined and easy to follow. At it's core, the benefits of the program would be:
- A one time, $1,500 cash payment to expectant mothers
- Monthly cash payments of $500 during the child's first year of life
A study from the University of Michigan found that Flint's program "lowered rates of maternal postpartum depression, stabilized families’ housing and improved infant outcomes – saving millions of dollars in NICU spending" (The Guardian). A similar program in St. Louis could dramatically strengthen economic stability for some of our most vulnerable residents, and by giving children and families a strong, healthy start, we can help ensure long-term community well-being.
The program would be funded through a mix of city resources, philanthropic partnerships, and federal/state maternal health grants, following the Flint model. This collaborative funding approach ensures sustainability while leveraging outside support for a high-impact local solution. Even with the political climate that we are currently in, there is bipartisan support for providing young children with more assistance. If we start working towards this at the local level, we can then start conversations with nonprofits, philanthropists, the MO government, and the federal government to help obtain the necessary grants.
