Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined community partners to host a roundtable on their Building Blocks legislative package, which aims to provide economic relief to parents statewide. Hosted in Flint by Senator John Cherry (D-Flint), the event featured legislative sponsors Senators Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit), Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), and Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), along with local partners, parents, and stakeholders.
Building Blocks Package:
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- The legislation was introduced earlier this year.
- It expands Rx Kids cash payment program.
- This first-in-the-nation program launched in January 2024 in Flint.
- It has since expanded to ten other areas as of earlier this month.
- Participating mothers receive $1,500 during pregnancy, and babies receive $500 a month for a designated length of time that varies between 6 – 12 months.
- According to Senator Santana, expanding the program statewide addresses the cycle of childhood poverty.
- The MI Tri-Share child care program would also expand statewide.
- This program tackled the rising cost of child care by splitting the cost between the employer, the employee, and the state of Michigan.
“We know that the challenges of parenthood don’t stop at city or county lines — families in every corner of our state need more support, especially during these times of economic uncertainty,” said Senator Santana. “That’s why I’m proud to have championed this legislation to make Rx Kids a statewide program, ensuring that every Michigan family has equitable access to the ‘Building Blocks’ needed to raise healthy, happy kids.”
Next Steps:
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- Senate Bills 308-313 were referred to the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee for consideration.
For more information, please visit https://senatedems.com/Building-Blocks/.
