A promenade of strollers, mothers wearing red sashes and toddlers trotting to keep up was part of a little festival in Flint, Michigan, where families received diapers and children gleefully played with each other and their parents.

It’s called a “baby parade.”

The sashes indicated the women were participants in a growing program that aims to help pregnant women and new moms by giving them cash at one of the most expensive times of their lives.

Backed by a mix of state, local and philanthropic money, Rx Kids gives mothers of newborns up to $7,500, with no income requirements and no conditions on how the money is used. Supporters believe the program could be a model solution to mitigate the high costs of having children, an issue that persists for many voters as President Donald Trump’s administration floats a policy to reverse the nation’s declining birth rate.

“The goal of Rx Kids is to improve health, to address this root-cause pathogen that makes so many of our kids sick and makes it really hard for them to be healthy and successful in their future,” said Dr. Mona Hanna, a Flint pediatrician and the founder of Rx Kids.

The program started in Flint last year.

Most participants need diapers, feeding supplies and baby clothes. The monthly payment can also help buy food and cover rent, utilities and transportation. One mom at the parade said diapers cost her $70 a month.

For some, the extra cash allows them to return to work earlier and pay for childcare. For others, it allows them to stay home longer with young kids.

Hanna said the program’s data shows nearly all pregnant women in Flint have signed up since it became available.

The program relies heavily on philanthropic donations. Hanna’s long-term goal is for the government to be the main provider in the future to ensure its longevity.

“We cannot wait to bring this plug-and-play program, this super-efficient, highly effective program to communities across the nation,” she said.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.