Michigan Family Resources: A Complete Guide for Moms & Families
A practical, save-this-page guide to food, health care, childcare, pregnancy support, financial assistance, utilities, early learning, mental health, and local family resources.
If you are a mom, caregiver, or parent in Michigan trying to figure out where to turn for help, you are not alone.
Sometimes the hardest part isn't knowing that you need help. It's figuring out where to start.
Who do you call?
Where do you apply?
Do you qualify?
Is there help with food? Child care? Diapers? Utilities? Health care? Preschool? Pregnancy? Mental health?
And what happens when you need more than one kind of help at the same time?
That is exactly why KindNest created its Resource Library.
This guide brings many of the most useful Michigan family resources together in one place so you can start here instead of spending hours searching through website after website.
Bookmark this page. Save it. Share it with another mom. Come back to it when your family's needs change.
You do not have to figure everything out at once.
Start With KindNest
The KindNest Project is a family-support nonprofit serving families in Michigan, with a focus on mothers, caregivers, babies, children, and families experiencing difficult seasons.
KindNest provides practical support such as:
Diapers and wipes
Baby essentials
Children's clothing
Hygiene supplies
Care packages
Family resource connections
Community referrals
Support for families experiencing hardship
KindNest's goal is not simply to hand a family a package and send them on their way.
Sometimes a family needs diapers.
Sometimes they need food assistance.
Sometimes they need child care.
Sometimes they need help finding another organization that can provide something KindNest cannot.
Sometimes they simply need someone to help them figure out the next step.
Need KindNest Support?
Families can submit a support request through the KindNest assistance application.
KindNest currently serves families throughout Michigan, and support is based on available resources and current inventory.
Most needed items currently include diapers, wipes, baby wash, and other baby and family essentials.
If you need help, asking is okay.
The KindNest Resource Library
The KindNest Resource Library brings together resources for:
Pregnancy
Parenting
Baby essentials
Food
Housing
Mental health
Domestic violence support
Infant care
Employment
Family stabilization
Community assistance
If you are not sure what kind of help you need, the Resource Library is a good place to start.
1. Michigan WIC
If you are pregnant, recently had a baby, breastfeeding, or have a young child, WIC may be one of the first programs to check.
Michigan WIC provides support for eligible:
Pregnant women
Breastfeeding women
Postpartum women
Infants
Children through age five
Depending on eligibility, WIC can provide:
Nutritious foods
Infant foods
Formula
Nutrition education
Breastfeeding support
Health referrals
Community resource referrals
WIC is not simply a food program. It can also be a connection point to other health and family resources.
What happens when you apply?
Your first appointment generally includes verification of information such as identity, address, income, and pregnancy when applicable.
If you aren't sure where your nearest WIC clinic is located, Michigan 2-1-1 can also help connect you with local resources.
Start here: Michigan WIC
2. Rx Kids: Financial Support for Flint and Genesee County Families
If you are pregnant or have a baby, make sure you check whether you qualify for Rx Kids.
Rx Kids provides direct financial support to eligible families during pregnancy and infancy.
Flint
Eligible expectant mothers living in the City of Flint can receive:
$1,500 during pregnancy
and
$500 per month for 12 months after the baby is born.
Enrollment is available during pregnancy and through the baby's first months of life, subject to current eligibility requirements.
2026 Genesee County Expansion
Rx Kids has also expanded into additional Genesee County communities, including:
Burton
Clio
Montrose
Mount Morris
Flint Township
Genesee Township
Montrose Township
Mount Morris Township
The benefit structure in these expansion communities is different from the City of Flint program and currently includes:
$1,500 during pregnancy
plus
$500 per month for six months after birth.
Eligibility depends on where you live, when your baby was born, and the current program requirements.
If you are pregnant or recently had a baby in Genesee County, it is worth checking.
3. Home Visiting Programs
Home visiting programs can be incredibly helpful, especially during pregnancy and the first years of a child's life.
Michigan offers several voluntary home visiting programs that connect families with trained professionals and family-support resources.
Programs can provide information and support related to:
Pregnancy
Infant development
Parenting
Breastfeeding
Child development
Safety
Health
Family goals
Community resources
Programs can include:
Michigan Infant Health Program
Nurse-Family Partnership
Healthy Families America
Parents as Teachers
Early Head Start
Other local home-visiting programs
These programs are designed to meet families where they are.
You don't have to wait until something is wrong to ask about them.
4. Michigan Infant Health Program
The Michigan Infant Health Program, or MIHP, provides free support to eligible pregnant individuals and families with infants.
MIHP is available for:
Pregnant individuals enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid
Families with infants under 12 months who are enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid
Support may include:
Care coordination
Health education
Referrals
Pregnancy support
Infant health information
Connections to community services
MIHP Contact
Phone: 833-MI4-MIHP
Phone: 833-644-6447
Email: MIHP@michigan.gov
5. Child Care Assistance
Child care can be one of the biggest expenses a family faces.
If you are struggling to afford child care, Michigan's Child Development and Care Program may be able to help eligible families with child care costs.
You can use MI Bridges to:
Apply
Check eligibility
Manage your case
Submit information
Receive notices
Michigan also provides resources for finding licensed child care and researching providers.
Looking for child care?
You can also explore Great Start to Quality to learn more about child care providers and quality information.
6. MI Tri-Share Child Care
Michigan's Tri-Share program is another resource families should know about.
The program divides the cost of eligible child care among:
The employer
The employee
The state
Each contributes a portion of the cost.
As of 2026, MI Tri-Share has been established as a permanent statewide program covering all 83 Michigan counties.
There is also MI Care-Share, which can provide additional support for qualifying families with very young children.
If child care costs are keeping you from working, returning to work, or maintaining employment, this is a resource worth investigating.
7. PreK for All
Michigan's PreK for All program provides no-cost preschool for eligible four-year-olds.
For the 2026–27 school year, children generally need to be four by December 1, 2026, under the current program requirements.
PreK for All is designed to make high-quality preschool more accessible to Michigan families.
Families can search for participating programs by ZIP code and connect with their local Intermediate School District.
If your child is approaching preschool age, don't wait until the last minute to look into enrollment.
8. Food Assistance and SNAP
If your family is struggling to keep food on the table, Michigan's Food Assistance Program can be an important resource.
Food assistance applications and case management can be handled through MI Bridges.
But there is an important 2026 update Michigan families should know about.
Flint Has a Specific SNAP Work-Requirement Exemption
Beginning in 2026, Michigan implemented new time-limited food assistance work requirements for certain adults.
However, the City of Flint is specifically listed as a city exempt from these work requirements.
That exemption is specific to the City of Flint.
It does not mean that every household in Genesee County is automatically exempt.
Other exemptions and deferrals may also apply based on a person's circumstances.
If you receive SNAP and are unsure whether the new requirements apply to you, check your MI Bridges account or contact MDHHS.
MDHHS Food Assistance Contact
Phone: 1-844-464-3447
Do not assume you are ineligible or that a work requirement applies to you without checking your individual situation.
9. MI Bridges
If you only remember one website from this entire guide, remember MI Bridges.
MI Bridges can help Michigan residents apply for and manage several types of assistance, including:
Food assistance
Health care
Cash assistance
Child care assistance
State Emergency Relief
Other benefits and services
You can also use your account to:
Upload documents
Check your case
Report changes
Review notices
Complete required steps
Track applications
Keeping your contact information current is especially important.
If MDHHS needs information from you, missing a deadline can affect your benefits.
10. Healthy Michigan Plan and Upcoming Medicaid Changes
Another important change Michigan families should know about involves the Healthy Michigan Plan.
Beginning January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19–64 who receive Medicaid through the Healthy Michigan Plan will have new work or approved-activity requirements.
Not everyone will be subject to the requirement.
Some people qualify for exemptions.
Current listed exemptions include circumstances such as:
Pregnancy
Having given birth within the previous 12 months
Being a parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or younger
Caring for a person with a disability
Certain foster-care circumstances
Certain veteran circumstances
Certain substance-use treatment circumstances
Other qualifying situations
Some people may meet the requirement through:
Employment
Self-employment
Education
Job training
Volunteering
Community service
Other approved activities
If you receive Healthy Michigan Plan coverage, keep your MI Bridges information updated and watch for notices from MDHHS.
11. Michigan 2-1-1
Sometimes you need help but don't know which program to call.
That's where Michigan 2-1-1 can be incredibly useful.
Michigan 2-1-1 connects people with thousands of health and human-service programs throughout the state.
You can get help finding resources related to:
Food
Housing
Utilities
Child care
Transportation
Health care
Mental health
Parenting
Employment
Financial assistance
Emergency needs
Community programs
Contact Michigan 2-1-1
Call: 211
You can also call:
844-875-9211
Or text your ZIP code to:
898211
Michigan 2-1-1 is available 24/7 and provides assistance in numerous languages.
If you don't know where to start, start here.
12. Help With Heat and Utilities
Michigan families struggling with utility bills may qualify for State Emergency Relief, or SER.
SER may provide temporary assistance when an eligible household is facing a heating or utility emergency, including situations where service has been shut off or is at risk of being shut off.
Assistance may also be available for certain deliverable fuel needs.
You can apply through MI Bridges and should act as soon as possible if you receive a shutoff notice.
Do not wait until the last possible day if you already know your household is having difficulty keeping utilities connected.
13. Find Help Mid-Michigan
For families in Flint, Genesee County, and surrounding communities, Find Help Mid-Michigan can help connect residents with local services.
This can be useful when you're looking for help with needs such as:
Food
Housing
Transportation
Health
Employment
Family support
Other community services
It is another good place to search when you need something local.
14. Flint and Genesee County Health Resources
There are also organizations in the Flint and Genesee County area that can help families navigate health-related needs.
Two resources worth knowing include:
Greater Flint Health Coalition
The Greater Flint Health Coalition works on health access and community health initiatives throughout the Flint area.
Genesee Health Plan
The Genesee Health Plan helps eligible Genesee County residents access health care coverage and services.
If you don't have insurance or are having difficulty accessing health care, these are worth exploring.
15. Maternal Mental Health Support
Motherhood can be wonderful.
It can also be exhausting, isolating, stressful, and overwhelming.
You don't have to wait until you are in crisis to reach out.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free and confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy.
Call or Text
1-833-TLC-MAMA
1-833-852-6262
The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can reach out if you are experiencing:
Anxiety
Depression
Feeling overwhelmed
Pregnancy-related stress
Postpartum concerns
Difficulty adjusting to motherhood
Questions about your emotional well-being
Concern about someone else's mental health
Asking for support is not a failure.
It is a form of taking care of yourself and your family.
16. What If You Need Diapers or Baby Essentials?
Sometimes the need is much more immediate.
You may have food assistance but still need diapers.
You may have housing but need baby clothing.
You may have health insurance but need wipes, hygiene supplies, or other essentials.
This is where community organizations can make a difference.
KindNest works to provide practical family essentials based on current donations and available inventory.
Current needs can include:
Diapers
Wipes
Baby wash
Baby clothing
Hygiene supplies
Baby essentials
Care-package items
If your family needs support, you can submit a KindNest request.
If KindNest does not have what you need, the Resource Library may help connect you with another organization.
17. You Don't Have to Qualify for Everything
One of the most frustrating parts of finding assistance is discovering that you qualify for one program but not another.
That's normal.
Programs have different:
Income limits
Residency requirements
Age requirements
Household requirements
Enrollment periods
Documentation requirements
Funding limitations
Being denied by one program does not necessarily mean there is no help available.
That is why it can be helpful to look at several resources rather than stopping after the first "no."
18. What To Do When You're Completely Overwhelmed
If reading this entire list makes you feel even more overwhelmed, stop.
You do not have to apply for everything today.
Start with one need.
If you need food:
Start with WIC, SNAP, or Michigan 2-1-1.
If you need child care:
Start with MI Bridges and Child Care Assistance.
If you are pregnant or have a baby:
Check WIC, Rx Kids, home visiting, and MIHP.
If you need health care:
Check Healthy Michigan Plan, Genesee Health Plan, and local health resources.
If your utilities are at risk:
Check State Emergency Relief through MI Bridges.
If you need diapers or baby essentials:
Check KindNest and the KindNest Resource Library.
If you don't know where to begin:
Call 211.
You don't have to solve your entire situation in one afternoon.
Find the next step.
Then take it.
19. A Quick-Start Michigan Family Resource List
KindNest Project
Family essentials, care packages, resource connections, and support
Email: hello@kindnestproject.org
Michigan WIC
Food, nutrition, breastfeeding support, infant and child resources
Rx Kids
Direct financial support for eligible pregnant women and families with babies in Flint and participating Genesee County communities
MIHP
Free pregnancy and infant support for eligible Medicaid families
833-MI4-MIHP / 833-644-6447
MI Bridges
Apply for and manage Michigan assistance programs
Child Care Assistance
Help with qualifying child care costs
MI Tri-Share
Child care costs shared among employer, employee, and state
PreK for All
No-cost preschool opportunities for eligible Michigan four-year-olds
Michigan 2-1-1
Call 211 or 844-875-9211
Text your ZIP code to 898211
State Emergency Relief
Potential assistance with emergency heating and utility needs
Find Help Mid-Michigan
Search for local services throughout the region
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA / 1-833-852-6262
20. Save This Page
Family needs change.
What you need today may not be what you need six months from now.
Maybe today you're looking for diapers.
Next month it might be child care.
Later it could be preschool, food assistance, health care, housing, employment, or mental health support.
That's why we created this guide.
Save it. Bookmark it. Send it to another mom.
You never know when someone in your circle will need a place to start.
You Are Not Alone
There is a lot of information here.
But underneath all of these programs, applications, phone numbers, and websites is something much simpler:
You deserve support.
Needing help does not mean you are failing your children.
It means you are trying to take care of your family.
Sometimes taking care of your family means asking for help.
Sometimes it means making a phone call.
Sometimes it means filling out one application.
Sometimes it means accepting a care package.
And sometimes it means helping another mom find the resource you wish someone had told you about sooner.
That's what community is supposed to do.
Start With One Step
If you are not sure what to do next, choose one thing from this list.
One phone call.
One application.
One resource.
One conversation.
You don't have to figure everything out today.
You just need to know where to begin.
And if you need a place to begin, KindNest is here to help you find that next step.
Need KindNest Support?
Visit the KindNest assistance application or contact:
Want to Find More Resources?
Visit the KindNest Resource Library.
Want to Help Another Family?
Consider donating, volunteering, sharing resources, or connecting KindNest with a community organization, business, church, school, or agency that wants to support families.
Because when one family gets the support they need, the whole community becomes a little stronger.
Important Resource Disclaimer
KindNest shares outside resources as a helpful starting point. Services, eligibility requirements, availability, hours, funding, and response times can change. Families should contact each organization directly to confirm current information before applying, visiting, or relying on a particular service.
KindNest does not determine eligibility for outside programs and does not provide medical, legal, or professional counseling advice.
If you are experiencing an emergency or are in immediate danger, call 911 or contact an appropriate emergency or crisis service directly.