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EVERY FAMILY IS NURTURED AS THEY WELCOME A NEWBORN

Family Connects transforms care for families with newborns by partnering to offer nurse visits, so every family has access to healthcare, guidance, and connections.

Through our evidence-based universal nurse visiting model, we ensure every family with a newborn is supported, connected, and confident as they navigate early childhood and grow together.

Making an Impact, One Family at a Time

Our Journey Since 2017

155047

Families Served

251024

Referrals Made To Community Services

880

Nurses Trained

Where We Work

Discover where we work—click on a state below to explore our Family Connects locations.

Bring Family Connects to Your Community

Our Story

Family Connects International began in 2008 as a partnership between the Center for Child & Family Health and Duke University to support families with free, universal nurse home visits. In 2022, Family Connects became an independent nonprofit, expanding its reach and deepening its impact.

By integrating short-term nurse visits with community resources, Family Connects ensures families receive the support they need during the postpartum period. Today, we continue working nationwide to foster healthier outcomes for newborns and their families.

See Our Impact

Real Results That Make a Difference

Randomized controlled trials of the Family Connects Model in 2009 and 2014 revealing significant benefits:

50%

Fewer ER Visits and Hospital Stays for Babies in the First Year

30%

Lower Risk of Postpartum Depression for Mothers

15%

Increase in Community Resource Engagement

News & Highlights

Family Connects International Earns ANCC Accreditation, Advancing Excellence in Postpartum Nurse Education

August 19, 2026

Continue Reading Family Connects International Earns ANCC Accreditation, Advancing Excellence in Postpartum Nurse Education

2026 National Breastfeeding Theme RISE: Resilience, Interdependence, Self-Determination, and Empowerment

August 3, 2026

Continue Reading 2026 National Breastfeeding Theme RISE: Resilience, Interdependence, Self-Determination, and Empowerment

Family Connects Seeks Policy Strategy Consultant

July 29, 2026

Continue Reading Family Connects Seeks Policy Strategy Consultant

The Latest from Family Connects on Facebook

Family Connects

14 hours ago

Read more about Family Connects New Orleans here: everychildthrives.com/universal-home-visits-are-changing-postpartum-care-in-new-orleans/ …

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Family Connects

15 hours ago

The fact is 87% of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable.The opportunity is clear: with the right support, delivered at the right time, we can change outcomes for families across this country.Investing in postpartum care supports healthier families, builds stronger communities, and saves lives. #familyconnects #MaternalHealth #PublicHealth #InvestInFamilies #StrongStarts #PreventionMatters …

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Family Connects

5 days ago

How do we know it works? The evidence is clear. Family Connects newborn nurse visits are associated with a 30% lower likelihood of possible postpartum depression or anxiety, reduced disparities across racial groups in multiple health outcomes, and higher rates of paternal involvement and stronger father-infant relationship quality. And families agree. According to recent data, 86% of women believe postpartum follow-ups should extend beyond current standards of care. And 99% of participants say they would recommend Family Connects.This is our opportunity to build a more connected, responsive postpartum system—one that supports families when it matters most. We can do better.#familyconnects #MaternalHealth #standardofcare #PublicHealth #StrongStarts …

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Bring Family Connects to Your Community

Join us in providing vital support to newborns and their families by implementing Family Connects in your area.

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COMMITTEE MEMBER, FOUNDER

Dr. Karen O’Donnell is Associate Professor (retired), Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center and Director of Prevention and Global Initiatives at the Center for Child and Family Health (also retired). She is a Senior Research Fellow at Duke Global Health Initiative. She received her graduate training in special education (M.Ed.) and clinical psychology (Ph.D.) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-doctoral study in Early Childhood at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle.

She has been a Licensed Practicing Psychologist in North Carolina since 1988. Her expertise focuses on infant and early childhood and development, traumatic stress, parenting, maternal mental health and treatment, the effects of in utero cocaine and HIV exposure on early development, and child and family assessment. Dr. O’Donnell is the lead author on the PEPFAR funded Child Status Index (CSI), now used to assess orphans and other vulnerable children in over 16 resource poor countries; the CSI provided the model for the Family Support Matrix, used in the Family Connects program. She continues to be an active participant in the implementation of the universal short-term home visiting program for newborns and their families, Family Connects, and its national dissemination.