Family Connects
Family Connects is designed to support whole-person, integrated health for all families of newborns at a moment of life-changing transition. Family Connects nurses are trained to carefully assess newborns and mothers and to discuss concrete next steps to address opportunities and concerns, including seeking immediate medical care when necessary. They work together with families and build from identified strengths to connect them to community resources that meet their needs and preferences. Family Connects nurses also keep the whole family in mind, recommending appropriate mental health services or medical care for other family members as needed—and they follow up to make sure families’ needs are met. Family Connects aims to reach at least 60 to 70 percent of families with newborns in each community it serves.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
All families in an affiliated community are offered up to three home visits during the first 3 weeks after birth. Home visits last up to 2 hours each. A registered nurse connects with a family in their home shortly after birth to assess the child’s and birthing person’s physical health status (as applicable), assess unique family strengths and challenges, and respond to immediate family needs.
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
Family Connects was implemented by 129 full-time equivalent (FTE) home visitors in 2022. Home visiting providers are Registered Nurses with up-to-date professional licenses, who function within the state’s Nurse Practice Act and are trained to provide newborn, caregiver, and family health and psychosocial assessments. Full-time home visitors typically enroll six to eight new families per week.
Supervisors
Family Connects was implemented by 29 FTE nurse supervisors in 2022.
Where is the model implemented?
Family Connects operated in 35 local agencies across 16 states in 2022.
Families Served Through Evidence-Based Home Visiting in 2022
Race
<1% American Indian Alaska Native
4% Asian
27% Black
<1% Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
51% White
3% Multiple
13% Another race
Ethnicity
35% Hispanic or Latino
65% Not Hispanic or Latino
Child age
100% <1 year
0% 1-2 years
0% 3-5 years
Child insurance status
61% Public
36% Private
3% None
Caregiver primary language
76% English
20% Spanish
4% Another language
Caregiver education
15% No HS diploma
29% HS diploma or GED
22% Some college or training
33% Bachelor's degree or higher
Caregiver age
1% <18 years
22% 18-24 years
28% 25-30 years
49% >30 years