Welcome to Public Health On Call, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,

where we bring evidence, experience, and perspective to make sense of today's leading health challenges.

If you have questions or ideas for us, please send an email to public health question at jhh.edu.

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This is Lindsay Smith Rogers.

Starting in January, 2024, the city of Flint, Michigan will be the first in the country to offer cash payments to new parents, each of them in the city.

By tackling poverty, the project aims to improve health, well-being, and economic development.

Behind the effort is Dr. Mona Hannah Attisha, the pediatrician who exposed the Flint water crisis

several years ago. She joins the podcast with her colleague, Michigan Public Policy Professor

Luke Schaefer. They speak to Dr. Sharfstein about the new effort and why it's needed.

You can read more at flintrxkids.com. We'll include the link in the show notes. Also, Professor Schaefer's new book is The Injustice of Place. Let's listen. Mona Hannah, Tisha, Luke Schaefer, thank you so much for joining me. Public Health on call. And to be honest, I'm particularly excited that Mona, you're here in the studio with me.

It's so wonderful to be here. And Josh, in person, it's so wonderful to give you a hug.

So we are here to talk about some very exciting news out of Flint, Michigan. Now, most people

would know you for your incredible work during the Flint water crisis. You're a pediatrician who works in

Flint.

Tell us what this project is about.

So, Josh, we are launching something in Flint called RX Kids, prescription kids,

and it is the first ever effort to eliminate maternal and infant poverty with universal

and unconditional citywide prenat, and infant cash allowances.

Tell me the details.

When will this start?

How much money?

...