Family Connects

Family Connects Essential Connections for Each and Every Newborn

In honor of American Sign Language (ASL) Day, we’re proud to highlight our ASL recruitment video created to support acce...
04/15/2026

In honor of American Sign Language (ASL) Day, we’re proud to highlight our ASL recruitment video created to support accessibility in home visiting.

Developed in response to feedback from our Family Connects New Jersey partners, this tool helps ensure deaf and hard of hearing caregivers can fully engage with services. In collaboration with Language Services Solutions, LLC, we partnered with Yuri Johnston, an interpreter from within the Deaf community, to ensure the translation is accurate, culturally respectful, and rooted in lived experience.

We’re grateful to our partners for helping us continue building more inclusive and equitable ways to connect with every family.

Parental stress doesn’t just affect parents, it shapes the wellbeing of the entire family. And the data shows just how s...
04/15/2026

Parental stress doesn’t just affect parents, it shapes the wellbeing of the entire family. And the data shows just how serious that it can be.

Here’s the hopeful part: When we reduce stress by providing parent support, everyone benefits.

- More positive parent–child interactions
- Stronger emotional bonding
- Better infant developmental outcomes
- Improved parental mental health
- Greater stability in the home environment

Family Connects can help make this possible. Through universal at-home nurse visits, we support parents early by offering reassurance, guidance, and connections that strengthen protective factors for both parent and child.

We. Can. Do. Better.

Because lowering stress doesn’t just lighten the load: It transforms the foundations of the entire family.
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Honoring Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, and the theme “Rooted in Justice and Joy.” We’re committed to supporti...
04/14/2026

Honoring Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, and the theme “Rooted in Justice and Joy.” We’re committed to supporting families with equitable, compassionate care—because every mother deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued.

By meeting families where they are, Family Connects helps ensure every parent has the tools and care they need to thrive.

Early childhood development doesn’t begin in a classroom—it begins at home. During the Week of the Young Child® (April 1...
04/13/2026

Early childhood development doesn’t begin in a classroom—it begins at home.
During the Week of the Young Child® (April 11–17), Family Connects is joining early childhood leaders nationwide to highlight a foundational truth: supporting families early is one of the most effective ways to help young children thrive.
The earliest years—birth through age eight—lay the groundwork for children’s:

• Brain development and learning
• Physical and emotional health
• Social-emotional skills
• Long-term educational and economic outcomes

Through Family Connects nurse home visits families with newborns receive early guidance, mental health support, and connection to community resources—at the very moment development is most sensitive to environment and care.

When families are supported early, children are better positioned to thrive.

👉 For more details, read our full press release.
https://familyconnects.org/2026/04/13/week-of-the-young-child-building-strong-foundations-early/

04/13/2026

Parental stress doesn’t just affect parents, it shapes the wellbeing of the entire family. And the data shows just how serious that it can be.

Here’s the hopeful part: When we reduce stress by providing parent support, everyone benefits.

- More positive parent–child interactions
- Stronger emotional bonding
- Better infant developmental outcomes
- Improved parental mental health
- Greater stability in the home environment

Family Connects can help make this possible. Through universal at-home nurse visits, we support parents early by offering reassurance, guidance, and connections that strengthen protective factors for both parent and child.

We. Can. Do. Better.

Because lowering stress doesn’t just lighten the load: It transforms the foundations of the entire family.
…

IF parents receive timely support, guidance, and reassurance … THEN parenting strategies increase and families feel more...
04/09/2026

IF parents receive timely support, guidance, and reassurance …

THEN parenting strategies increase and families feel more confident caring for their newborn.

WHEN families feel supported in the early days …

THEN stability grows, bonding strengthens, and children thrive in nurturing environments.

IF communities invest in universal programs like Family Connects …

THEN every family has access to the tools, resources, and connections they need to succeed.

SUPPORTED FAMILIES = STRONG FAMILIES

Pass it on.
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This National Public Health Week, we’re embracing the theme Ready. Set. Action! as a reminder that strong communities ar...
04/08/2026

This National Public Health Week, we’re embracing the theme Ready. Set. Action! as a reminder that strong communities are built through intentional, connected systems of care. Family Connects supports families during the critical postpartum period by providing early, evidence-based support and linking them to trusted local resources.

Through collaboration with hospitals, community partners, and public health teams, we help ensure families are not only ready for support, but set within systems that make it accessible—and able to take action toward healthier outcomes. Together, we’re working to strengthen families and communities from the very start. 💙

Read our full National Public Health Week press release to learn more.
https://familyconnects.org/2026/04/06/national-public-health-week-highlighting-postpartum-support/

While parenting has always been demanding, data shows today’s parents are facing unprecedented challenges.The U.S. Surge...
04/08/2026

While parenting has always been demanding, data shows today’s parents are facing unprecedented challenges.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Parents Under Pressure Advisory reports that 41% of parents say most days they’re so stressed they cannot function.

And that level of stress isn’t just overwhelming — it affects everything from parent well-being, child nurturance, and the stability of the entire family unit.

Thankfully there are solutions.

Family Connects offers an evidence-based, nurse-led approach that reduces parental stress, strengthens protective factors, and connects families to the resources they need during the newborn period:

- Lowering parental stress
- Building community connections
- Strengthening the family unit
- Supporting healthier outcomes for parents and children.

Data guides us toward what works — and Family Connects works.

Visit FamilyConnects.org to learn more.
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Daniella, Brittani, and Wendy recently visited The Cooperative, connecting with FCNJ Atlantic County through hands-on ex...
04/07/2026

Daniella, Brittani, and Wendy recently visited The Cooperative, connecting with FCNJ Atlantic County through hands-on experiences in hospital recruitment, home visits, and community outreach. Family Connects also joined regional case conferences and facilitated a matrix and connection workshop—strengthening collaboration across teams.

We’re inspired by the passion and dedication of partners supporting families at the Jersey Shore and beyond. 💙

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Public health doesn’t start in hospitals—it starts in homes. This National Public Health Week, we’re highlighting the po...
04/06/2026

Public health doesn’t start in hospitals—it starts in homes.

This National Public Health Week, we’re highlighting the postpartum period as a public health inflection point and the role of early, universal support in preventing crises before they occur.

Prevention works.
Systems matter.
Families deserve better.

👉 Read our full National Public Health Week press release to learn more. https://familyconnects.org/2026/04/06/national-public-health-week-highlighting-postpartum-support/

04/06/2026

Being a parent to a newborn is as incredible and rewarding as it is challenging.

Sleepless nights, the many questions and new emotions … caring for whole person is a big job.

At Family Connects, we link families to the right support at the right time, so they have what it needs to thrive.

A simple check-in. A listening ear. A trained nurse who understands what you’re going through.

The right support and information can make all the difference when welcoming a new baby.
Parents, you’ve got this. And we’re here to help.

Learn more at FamilyConnects.org
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3710 University Drive, Suite 310
Durham, NC
27707

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Connecting Every Child to a Healthy Future

The earliest months of human life are foundational for later development — including social, emotional, and brain development — with the physical and mental health of the mother playing a critical role. Too many families of newborn infants have unmet needs that keep them from achieving successful outcomes for their children, and most communities are not organized in ways that identify and serve these families effectively.

Family Connects International offers an evidence-based model that combines engagement and alignment of community service providers with short-term nurse home visiting beginning in the first month after birth. The Family Connects model is designed to be delivered to all families with newborns, free-of-charge.

Through an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluation, this model is proving to have a positive impact on increasing family connections to community agencies, improving the parent-child relationship, reducing incidence of postpartum anxiety, reducing the use of emergency health care, and reducing the number of investigations for suspected child maltreatment.

We work with a variety of communities, hospital systems and agencies across the country who want to implement this effective model at a local level. For more information about implementing Family Connects in your community, contact us at familyconnects@duke.edu.