<
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1234947790/cash-aid-flint-michigan-pregnant-moms-poverty-child-development-pregnancy>
'Flint, Mich., has one of the country's highest rates of child poverty —
something that got a lot of attention during the city's lead water crisis a
decade ago. And a pediatrician who helped expose that lead problem has now
launched a first-of-its-kind move to tackle poverty: giving every new mother
$7,500 in cash aid over a year.
On a recent day at her clinic, pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha is helping get
out the word about the new program, which started in January.
"Oh, hi baby!" she coos, as she pops into a checkup for 2-day-old Rowan. His
mother, Hailey Toporek, is 19 and realized she was pregnant only 10 days before
delivery. "I'm very nervous," she tells Hanna-Attisha.
Toporek is still living at home and is here with her mom. They're both amazed
to learn Toporek will get $500 a month for the next year. She knows right where
it will go first.
"Diapers. Formula. Just to take care of him, honestly," Toporek says. "It's
been difficult for me, but I got my mom here to help."
Her mom, Heather Toporek, works at an assisted living facility for disabled
adults and had to take off work because her daughter doesn't have a driver's
license. She says the extra cash will make it easier to do that for the many
doctor's appointments to come.
"Somebody's got to be there, and if that means it's me then, you know, that's a
whole day's pay that I'm going without," Heather Toporek says.
Beyond helping with costs, she says this unexpected money will be
life-changing. While it may not seem like much to some, Heather Toporek says,
it could allow her daughter to finish high school and pursue her dream of
studying forensics.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
