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The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, in partnership with Jefferson Einstein Hospital, recently launched the free Family Connects Philadelphia program. This program is modeled after the Family Connects model, which supports new parents by providing in-home wellness visits performed by a highly trained registered nurse. The nurse connects new parents with resources to nurture the whole family and supports the health and wellbeing of the newborn and new parent. There is no charge to families for this service, and the conversations between families and nurses are completely confidential.
“We’re so excited to bring this evidence-based model to Philadelphia,” said Dr. Stacey Kallem, Director of the Health Department’s division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health. “This program has been shown to have positive impacts across the board for new babies and parents, such as fewer emergency department visits, safer home environments, and reduced reports of postpartum anxiety.”
“Every family can use a little help in the early days of parenting, and that’s exactly what Family Connects provides,” said Family Connects Program Manager, Ebony Durant.
Family Connects Philadelphia visits are available to all families who live in Philadelphia and give birth at Jefferson Einstein Hospital. The Health Department is tracking the success of the Family Connects Philadelphia program and may work to expand it citywide in the future.
Family Connects nurses provide a variety of services and are trained to answer all kinds of questions, including providing information on the wealth of resources available to new parents in Philadelphia. Participants in the program can expect the following support from their nurse:
- Health and wellness exam for birthing parent and infant
- Mental health screening and support
- Help with infant feeding (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, etc.)
- Tips on bathing, diapering, and swaddling
- Safe sleep information
- Assistance getting health insurance, childcare, and other family support
About Family Connects
The Family Connects model was established in 2008 through a partnership with the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy, the Center for Child & Family Health, and the Durham County Health Department. It is an evidence-based model designed to support whole-person, integrated health for all families of newborns. The goal is to start families on a positive path to health by helping ensure key health measures are met, by providing health education, and by linking families to community resources.
For more information about Family Connects, visit https://familyconnects.org/.