Bridging the gap between parents & community resources
Research shows that 95 percent of all families have needs after the birth of a child. These needs are unique to each family. Family Connects Austin/Travis County bridges the gap between parents and community resources and has been shown to improve family well-being, including reducing emergency medical care for infants and improving parent behavior and child care selection.
The program provides between one and three nurse home visits to every family with a newborn beginning at about three weeks of age, regardless of income. Using a tested screening tool, the nurse measures newborn and maternal health and assesses strengths and needs to link the family to community resources.
The Goals of Family Connects Austin/Travis County:
- Connect with every family in their home after the birth of a newborn.
- Offer supportive guidance to families, responding specifically to questions about newborn care.
- Link families to community services based on their individual needs and preferences.
- Help new parents connect with their infant, supporting child development and improving overall family well-being.
In order to achieve these goals, the Family Connects model goes beyond just provision of nurse home-visits, it ensures that Community Alignment and Data and Monitoring are incorporated in the process.
The Importance of Data & Monitoring
A randomized control trial in Durham, North Carolina found:
Family Connects Austin/Travis county partners:
