Hardship and Hope: The Relationship Between Unconditional Prenatal and Infant Cash Transfers, Economic Stability, and Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> 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. <b>Methods.</b> 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. <b>Results.</b> 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 (<i>P</i> < .05) and a 14.0-percentage-point reduction in screening positive for postpartum depression (<i>P</i> < .05). Program exposure was associated with increased trust in institutions and feeling loved, hopeful, respected, and valued. <b>Conclusions.</b> 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. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2025;115(12): 2020-2029. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308244).