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State agencies collaborate with UNM Hospital to offer universal nursing visits for newborns and their families
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) collaborate with UNM Hospital to provide a universally offered nurse home visit for all newborns and their caregivers beginning three weeks postpartum. This multiagency collaboration will have an initial focus on Bernalillo County residents that receive prenatal care at the UNM Eubank Women’s Health Clinic and deliver at UNM Hospital.
“This collaboration with Family Connects speaks to the Department of Health’s commitment to improving quality of life and health equity for New Mexico families and newborns,” said David R. Scrase, M.D Acting Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health. “Thanks to Sec. Groginsky and ECECD for their leadership with this new collaboration giving families and their newborns a head start on quality healthcare.”
“Nursing before, during and after delivery is critical for mothers and newborns,” said Elizabeth Groginsky, Cabinet Secretary for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. “The earlier we can support parents’ health and well-being, the better the outcomes are for families and babies. ECECD is so pleased to provide these crucial resources for newborns in collaboration with UNM hospitals.”
The evidence-based Family Connects model was developed and piloted in Durham, NC through a partnership with Duke University’s Center for Child & Family Policy and the non-profit Center for Child & Family Health. Now, with implementation support from Family Connects International, New Mexico joins 17 other states who offer Family Connects services to families in their state.
“We are so fortunate to partner with Family Connects and appreciate this critical support for our patients and the approach of helping address the unique needs of each birthing patient and infant,” said Eve Espey, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the UNM School of Medicine.
At the three weeks postpartum nurse home visit, Family Connects New Mexico nurses will be assessing four domains of wellness designed to support the entire family. Those domains are:
- Support for health care.
- Support for infant care.
- Support for a safe home.
- Support for parents.
Whether this is your first, or you have other children in the home who need care and attention, nearly everyone can use a little extra help in the first weeks after delivery. Family Connects New Mexico nurses are trained to answer your questions and if needed, connect you with the support you need.
This multiagency collaboration has already started statewide conversations to identify other communities across New Mexico who see Family Connects as an added value for their community. If you want to find out more about the work happening in New Mexico, please email FCNM@doh.nm.gov If you would like more information on the Family Connects model, please visit https://familyconnects.org/.
Family Connects New Mexico is one of many services that are available to families across New Mexico. For other home visiting services across the state, you may also visit Moments Together - For Parents of Little Ones (momentsnm.org).
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