Having a baby is both a joyful and difficult time. Family Connects Prince George's has been offering telehealth visits for caregivers 3-4 weeks after delivery as an additional support to the post-partum care provided by their own doctors since November 2020. Many other programs for children and families target their services to specific populations, focused on those thought to be at greatest risk (using identifiers such as income, first birth or age of the mother). But research has consistently shown that the birth of a baby is a time of vulnerability for every family. By offering services to every family, we can improve health outcomes at a population level and the stigma attached to receiving services is reduced. Family Connects is offered to families on a voluntary basis - families are free to accept or decline a home visit. Registered nurses visit with families and help identify and access the resources in their community that fit with their individual needs and preferences.
Family Connects is designed to integrate with existing community services and complement and enhance services that are already being offered--it is not designed to replace more intensive services, including other home visiting services.
The Family Connects program has been very well received in Prince George's County because the registered nurses provide a trusting, supportive and high level of care for a population that has very complex and complicated cases. Meet some of our team below.
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