Philadelphia is Paying Pregnant Women $1,000 a Month to Improve Birth Rates

Mar. 15, 2025

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A new trial program in Philadelphia is offering financial support to people during pregnancy.

To be eligible, residents must be pregnant, have a household income of less than $100,000 annually, and live in one of the three Philly neighborhoods with the highest rates of very low birth weight: Cobbs Creek, Strawberry Mansion or Nicetown-Tioga. Families will also be offered voluntary assistance such as home visits, financial counseling, and doula help, among other services.

According to recent data from theDepartment of Public Health, Philadelphia’s infant mortality rate is 40% higher than the national rate. Black and Hispanic people were the top two ethnic groups “disproportionately impacted” in categories linked to child deaths, such as prematurity, perinatal conditions, and sleep-related deaths.

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“Black infants in our city are over three times more likely to die before their first birthday than White infants,” the program’s website states.

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Dr. Stacey Kallem, director of the Philadelphia Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health, said, perWhyy. “Alleviating financial stress during pregnancy can have real and positive impacts on birth outcomes. And the way to alleviate financial stress is actually pretty simple — you give people cash.”

Stock image of mom and newborn.SDI Productions / Getty Images

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So far, 111 people have signed up for the trial program, perDaily Mail.

Program member Imani Davis said, perWhyy, “All your money has to go to bills, all your money has to make sure you have food on the table or a roof over your head, so you might not have extra money for a stroller or a crib. This is where the guaranteed income will make an impact.”

source: people.com