Felicia Cain
We’re honored to welcome Felicia Cain, MSN, RN, Family Health Nurse Services Coordinator at Boulder County Public Health, as a guest blogger. Felicia oversees Family Connects in Colorado and brings firsthand experience supporting families during the crucial first months after birth.
In this post, she shares insights about the Family Connects program, an evidence-based, in-home nurse service designed to support every type of family during the postpartum period. For our InJoy partners—including hospitals, birth educators, doulas, and NICU teams—understanding programs like Family Connects can help you connect families to critical resources and enhance the support you provide in the first weeks of life.
Nurse Home Visiting for All Types of Families
While standing in the aisle of the auditorium, making sure every detail of our 1,000th home visit celebration was running smoothly, I heard something that stopped me in my tracks. A former client on the panel, now a physician assistant, said, “I’m a PA, and I think Family Connects is for everyone. I don’t care if you’re the world’s best pediatrician, you would benefit from Family Connects.” As the nurse supervisor and program coordinator for Family Connects Colorado at Boulder County Public Health, those words meant everything. They captured exactly what I hope to achieve, making Family Connects a trusted part of every family’s care.
Family Connects launched in Colorado just three years ago and is available in other states across the country (opens in a new tab). It is an evidence-based in-home nurse service, proven through research to improve family well-being and newborn health, offered at no cost. Whether it is someone’s first or fifth baby, every pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience is different. Family Connects is here to honor that journey and set families up for success.
Nearly every family needs support during the first three months after birth. Research shows that 94 percent of families have one or more needs related to nursing support or community resources.
The data also show that Family Connects leads to:
• A 44 percent reduction in child protective services investigations through age two
• A 50 percent reduction in emergency department visits for babies in the first year
• A 30 percent reduction in maternal reports of depression and anxiety
Family Connects is a short-term service that includes one to three nurse visits between three and 12 weeks postpartum. Around the three-week mark, most full-term newborns have passed their birth weight, baby blues should be easing, and families are preparing for their six-week postpartum visit. But that same period is when many parents begin to feel isolated, breastfeeding challenges may emerge, and babies can become fussy. Our nurses assess these and other needs during home visits, offering education, support, and referrals to care and community resources.
Family Connects supports all kinds of families, including foster, kinship, adoptive, and immigrant families. We also understand that not every parent goes home with their newborn. We tailor our care for bereaved families and those with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Across many cultures, postpartum traditions emphasize rest, which is essential for recovery, bonding, and long-term health. Globally, the average postnatal rest period is about 40 days. In Latin America, la cuarentena reflects this deeply rooted tradition. Unfortunately, many families in the United States do not have the resources to rest and recover during what is often called the fourth trimester.
No matter how long someone’s postpartum recovery lasts, this time is foundational. Family Connects nurses are invited into homes at a moment that shapes the entire future of a family. It is where some of the most important work is happening—resting, healing, and bonding with a newborn. It is a privilege to be welcomed into that space. I believe Family Connects Colorado helps plant the seeds for a more peaceful world.
At our 1,000th visit celebration, Raoudha Zelaya from the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau captured that vision beautifully:
We celebrate not just 1,000 visits, but 1,000 acts of love. And with each visit to come, we continue building a world where no parent walks alone, no baby is left behind, and every family has a chance to rise. Let this be our pledge: to keep knocking on doors, to keep listening, to keep showing up for our families, because this work does not end at 1,000 visits. It is just the beginning. And together, we will reach 10,000, 100,000, and beyond.
Join me in this work to transform the standard of postpartum care. We still have a long road ahead, but we can start right now by making sure every birth facility, birth professional, and expectant parent knows about Family Connects.
FAQs About the Family Connects Program
Who qualifies?
- Families with a newborn are eligible with limitations based on where the family lives.
- To learn about Family Connects in the U.S. go to familyconnects.org.
- To learn more about Family Connects Colorado visit familyconnectscolorado.org.
How do families sign up?
- That depends on each local Family Connects site. You can go to familyconnects.org/our-work/ (opens in a new tab) to see if there’s a Family Connects program in your area.
What material is used/given to families?
- Each Family Connects site provides a folder for the baby’s caregiver. The content included will vary based on location, because we like to provide local resources relevant to our families. Generally, we provide information about postpartum and infant warning signs, human milk storage, infant formula preparation, safe sleep, and soothing techniques for a fussy baby.
- Our site provides a Bringing Home Baby Guidebook, which was co-developed with family ambassadors to ensure it is most relevant to the families in the fourth trimester and is available in several languages.
What materials are provided to help hospitals or providers share Family Connects with families?
- Family Connects offers a variety of outreach and communication materials to help hospitals, clinics, and community partners introduce the program to families. These typically include brochures, flyers, posters, and digital assets that explain the program’s purpose, process, and benefits in clear, parent-friendly language. Partners also receive guidance and best practices for integrating Family Connects information into discharge packets, patient portals, and prenatal education materials to ensure families are aware of and can easily enroll in the service.
How many visits do families get?
- Most families only need 1 visit, but up to 3 visits can be provided through 12 weeks postpartum.
Are there weekend and evening visit options?
- This depends on the site. Most sites are willing to work with families to find the best time and day for a visit. Generally, Family Connects sites operate during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
Is Family Connects for the whole family, older kids, partner/father, etc.?
- Family Connects serves the whole family. While the service is mainly for primary caregivers and the newborn, we can also address the needs of partners, older children, and other family members in the household.
Is the visit information shared with the family’s healthcare providers?
- Unless the client opts out of sharing information about the visit with their provider, we generally share visit summary reports with providers.
- However, if urgent needs arise during the visit, the nurse will contact the health
How can other allied birth professionals like educators, doulas, and IBCLCs help families find out about the program?
- Learn if there is a Family Connects in your area. (opens in a new tab) If so, ask your clients if they know about Family Connects and provide details about how they can sign up for a visit. It’s best practice to refer or schedule a visit while families are still in your care!
Are there similar programs in other areas/states?
- While research consistently shows home visiting programs improve outcomes for parents and babies alike, few programs are available nationwide. The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is one such model. NFP is available in all states across the U.S. NFP serves first-time parents and provides support from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday, while Family Connects focuses on the first 3 months postpartum and also serves families who have had more than one child.
How can someone get a similar program started in their area?
- If you’re in Colorado, contact Illuminate Colorado, our State Intermediary at familyconnectscolorado.org.
- If you’re outside Colorado, contact Family Connects International at familyconnects.org.
How are Family Connects nurses staffed or trained?
- Family Connects works in partnership with local health systems and community agencies to staff and train registered nurses who provide the home visits. Nurses receive specialized training in maternal and infant health, community resource connection, and Family Connects’ evidence-based model to ensure consistent, high-quality care for every family.
How can nurses or organizations get involved with Family Connects?
- Nurses typically join through local health departments or hospital systems that have implemented the Family Connects model. Organizations interested in bringing the program to their community can connect with Family Connects for implementation guidance, training, and ongoing support.
