Local News

Belmont County expecting mothers to receive $1,500 regardless of economic status

MARTINS FERRY - Belmont County expecting mothers will soon be able to receive a one-time $1,500 payment during mid-pregnancy and $500 per month for the first six months of their baby’s life.

All mothers at least 16 weeks pregnant, or have had a baby born on or after November 1 of this year are eligible to receive the payment.

The funds are made possible through the Michigan based entity Rx Kids.

Rx Kids is expanding into Eastern Ohio in a partnership with the Belmont County Community Action Commission, GiveDirectly and The Foundation for a Better World to bring the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program to families in eastern Ohio.

Enrollment opens Nov. 16 at 9 am for Belmont County residents and there are no economic requirements or restrictions for enrollment for the program.

Eligibility does not depend on income and the payments will not impact key public benefits including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Ohio Works First, Medicaid, housing assistance, and child care subsidies.

"You will not have to worry about your payments impacting eligibility for any of those programs," GiveDirectly Senior Program Manager Tarrajna Dorsey said.

To enroll, expecting mothers can go to RxKids.org.

RX Kids is the nation's first-ever, community-wide maternal and infant cash prescription program, founded and directed by Michigan State University College of Human Medicine pediatrician and Associate Dean of Public Health Dr. Mona Hanna.

"Everyone is talking about affordability, but families need solutions now. And there are few times in life when affordability matters more than when you’re having a baby," Hanna said. "Rx Kids is a simple, proven solution that puts money directly into parents’ hands and improves maternal and infant health. We’re thrilled to bring this proven solution to Belmont County because every family deserves a little more financial breathing room, and every baby deserves the healthiest possible start."

The initiative's enrollment, verification, safeguards and payments will be managed by GiveDirectly, a global leader in cash transfers.

The project is funded by The Foundation for a Better World, whose founder Tom Claugus grew up in Belmont County.

"Finding a way to reach the whole community rather than one corner of it is what brought us to Rx Kids," The Foundation for a Better World president Adam Hoffman said. "The evidence behind the program in Michigan is strong. Rural families in Eastern Ohio face the same financial pressure during pregnancy and the first months of a baby's life, often with fewer places to turn, and they should have the same opportunity."

Belmont County commissioner JP Dutton said he believes the partnership is a great fit due to Belmont County already having a lengthy history of supporting at-risk portions of the population such as children and the elderly.

"It fits hand in glove with the efforts that we try to do on a daily basis here, and I think it’s going to be a natural fit. This program will be a natural fit anywhere, obviously, but I think it’s going to be a natural fit to some of the coordination that we have," Dutton said.

Hanna said she is grateful for Rx Kids to now be included with services Belmont County already offers.

"Rx Kids is about taking care of our most vulnerable, our mamas, our babies, in a time-limited, evidence-based, really simple and efficient way, and because it’s for everybody, and because we’re trusting mama, it really comes with these really incredible values," Hanna said. "First and foremost, it’s love. This is a program that’s based on love, dignity, deservingness, and trust. Our families are doing the hardest job in the world, having to raise children and it’s expensive and it’s hard."

She added the program sends a message to parents where institutions, government, philanthropic efforts and academia are standing alongside parents during this difficult time and supporting them with love.

Hanna said Rx Kids has efficiently delivered direct support to thousands of families across dozens of communities -- strengthening family financial security, improving maternal and infant health, alongside boosting local economies.

Adoption or guardianship changes are accommodated for the child's first six months.

Residents who are currently residing in shelters in Belmont County will also be accommodated through a shelter form on the Rx Kids website.

"Everyone is talking about affordability, but families need solutions now. And there are few times in life when affordability matters more than when you’re having a baby," Hanna said. "Rx Kids is a simple, proven solution that puts money directly into parents’ hands and improves maternal and infant health. We’re thrilled to bring this proven solution to Belmont County because every family deserves a little more financial breathing room, and every baby deserves the healthiest possible start."

Belmont County Community Action Commission executive director Alaire Gompers added welcoming a new baby should be a time of celebration, not one overshadowed by financial stress.

"Rx Kids helps ease that burden by providing meaningful support to expectant and new mothers during this critical stage of life. CAC is incredibly proud to serve as the Community Champion for this initiative and to help bring this important investment in the health and future of Belmont County families to our community," Gompers said. "I’m just so excited about this part of Belmont County."

The generosity of the program isn’t lost on Gompers either. She said she could cry every time she talks about the program because the opportunity is so meaningful to the county.

Belmont County resident and expecting mother Courtney McCloud said the program will be a massive help for her because she does not receive any maternity leave benefits at her current job.

McCloud added she is also planning on going back to college while working her job and expecting her third child.

"I feel like the Rx Kids program will help somebody like me in my shoes who doesn’t have the extra means or financial support because I don’t have the benefits for my job," McCloud said. "I’m just super elated."

She added the program is going to help a lot of families in the community, especially with the current economic struggles many residents are experiencing.