Strategy

Family Connects

What is it?

Family Connects is a health program that uses nurse home visits to provide families with the support and resources they need to promote the well-being of newborns. Family Connects nurses are trained to assess newborns and mothers, conduct screenings, and guide families on their next steps. Home visits occur two to three weeks after birth and families may enroll until the child is six months old.  

What is the evidence?

Family Connects reduces child maltreatment and emergency medical care use in early childhood. Mothers demonstrate positive parenting behaviors, participation in higher quality out-of-home child care, lower rates of anxiety, and have access to more community connections. 

• Goodman et al_2021_Effect of a Universal Postpartum Nurse Home Visiting Program on Child Maltreatment and Emergency Medical Care at 5 Years of Age
• Dodge et al_2014_Implementation and Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of Universal Postnatal Nurse Home Visiting