Author: marketing intern

Week of the Young Child® Calls Attention to the Earliest Years—When Support for Families Makes the Greatest Difference 

As communities across the country observe the Week of the Young Child®, April 11–17, 2026, Family Connects is joining early childhood leaders nationwide to elevate the importance of supporting young children and the families who care for them during the most formative years of life. 
 

The Week of the Young Child® is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association, representing nearly 60,000 members and a network of 51 Affiliates nationwide. Established in 1971, the Week was created to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. 

For more than five decades, NAEYC has emphasized a foundational truth: the early childhood years—from birth through age eight—lay the groundwork for children’s success in school and in life. 

“Early childhood development does not begin in a classroom—it begins at home, from the very first days of life,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects. “Supporting families early is one of the most effective ways to strengthen outcomes for young children.” 

And supporting families with newborns means children can thrive the during a time of exponential growth:  

• Brain development and learning capacity 

• Physical and emotional health 

• Social-emotional skills and relationships 

• Long-term educational and economic outcomes 

And yest, families with newborns often face challenges—sleep deprivation, health concerns, feeding questions, mental health stressors, and social isolation—at precisely the moment when early development is most sensitive to environment and support. 

Home-visiting models like Family Connects Supports insure that:  

• Every family is reached, regardless of income, race, or background—reducing gaps in access and opportunity 

• Registered nurses assess infant development, safety, health, and family strengths during the postpartum period 

• Parents receive guidance on nurturing relationships, responsive caregiving, feeding, sleep, and early learning 

• Maternal mental health and family well-being are supported, recognizing that healthy caregivers are essential to healthy children 

• Families are connected directly to early childhood programs, health care, and community resources that support development from birth through the early years 

“The Family Connects model aligns closely with the goals of the Week of the Young Child®—supporting children by strengthening families and communities,” said Kim Friedman JD, Chief Program Officer at Family Connects. “When families are supported early, children are better positioned to thrive.” 

The Week of the Young Child® is not only a celebration—it is a call to action. It is a time to reflect on how we, as communities, states, and a nation, can better meet the needs of all young children and their families. 

Family Connects calls on policymakers, early childhood leaders, health systems, funders, and community partners to invest in preventive, family-centered approaches that begin at birth and strengthen the full continuum of early childhood development. 

“Supporting young children means supporting families—early, universally, and with intention,” said Woodard. “That is how we build stronger futures for children and communities alike.” 

National Public Health Week Highlights Postpartum Support as a Critical Public Health Strategy 

As communities nationwide observe National Public Health Week, April 6–12, Family Connects is elevating the postpartum period as one of the most important—and overlooked—windows for public health intervention. 

National Public Health Week is led annually by the American Public Health Association (APHA) to recognize the role of public health in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. This year’s theme, “Ready, Set, Action!”, calls on individuals and organizations to move beyond awareness and take meaningful steps toward building healthier communities. 

For families with newborns, the weeks following birth represent a critical intersection of maternal health, infant health, mental health, safety, and social determinants of health—all core public health concerns. 

“Public health is about prevention, not reaction,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects. “When we support families early—before challenges escalate—we improve outcomes not just for individual families, but for entire communities.” 

For Family Connects, “Ready, Set, Action!” reflects the power of showing up early delivering proactive, evidence-based support to families during the postpartum period, when it can make the greatest difference. 

Research shows that the Postpartum Period represents a Public Health inflection point included but not limited to: 

• Increased risk of maternal mental health conditions 

• Higher rates of emergency medical care use 

• Elevated vulnerability for infants, particularly in the first year of life 

• Disparities driven by race, income, and access to care 

Unfortunately, postpartum care in the United States is often fragmented, inconsistent, or limited to a single clinical visit—leaving many families without the support they need during a high-risk transition. 

And yet, the Family Connects Model advances Public Health through: 

• Registered nurse assessments of maternal and infant health, mental health, safety, and social needs during the postpartum period 

• Early screening to identify risks before they become emergencies or crises 

• Connecting families directly to primary care, behavioral health, early childhood services, and community supports 

• Providing Universal access reduces stigma and disparities, ensuring families are supported regardless of income or background 

• And demonstrating reduced emergency medical use and child welfare involvement, strengthening outcomes while lowering system costs 

“This is what effective public health looks like,” said Alain Glen, Chief Nursing Officer at Family Connects. “It’s proactive, relational, and grounded in evidence.” 

National Public Health Week—and the call to “Ready, Set, Action!” —is a reminder that improving health requires more than awareness; it requires timely action not only in hospitals and clinics, but in homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

Supporting families during the postpartum period strengthens long-term child development and school readiness, parental mental health and economic stability, community health equity, and system efficiency by preventing costly downstream interventions. 

This National Public Health Week, Family Connects calls on public health leaders, policymakers, health systems, and funders to recognize postpartum support as an essential public health investment—and to scale preventive, family-centered models that improve outcomes at the population level. 

Postpartum challenges are not an individual or even family issue; they are a public health issue. 

Child Abuse Prevention Month Highlights the Critical Need to Support Families Early—Before Harm Occurs 

As the nation observes Child Abuse Prevention Month, Family Connects International is calling attention to a sobering reality: the earliest months of a child’s life are also the most dangerous—and the most preventable—when families lack timely support. 

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for the Administration for Children & Families, in 2023: 

• 3.1 million children were subject to a Child Protective Services (CPS) response. 

• 546,159 children were determined to be victims of maltreatment, 70% of which were first-time victims. 

• Infants under one year of age—the “fourth trimester”—experienced the highest rates of victimization. 

• Of the 1,968 child fatalities reported by states, infants under one were more than three times as likely to die as the next highest age group (one-year-olds). 

These data make clear that child abuse prevention must begin early—before harm occurs, and before families reach crisis. 

“Child maltreatment is not inevitable,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects. “It is often the result of unmet needs during an incredibly vulnerable period for families. Prevention works when we show up early, universally, and with trust.” 

And yet the Fourth Trimester offers a window for Prevention. 

 

The weeks following birth are a time of immense transition. Families are navigating recovery, sleep deprivation, feeding, mental health challenges, and social isolation—all while caring for a newborn. A decade of research into the Family Connects Model, however, shows: 

• 39% decrease in total per-child CPS investigations for suspected maltreatment 

• 33% decrease in mean total per-child emergency medical care use in early childhood 

• Reduced disparities across racial groups in multiple health outcomes 

• Sustained improvements in positive parenting behaviors through the first two years of life 

• And that mothers were 30% less likely to experience possible postpartum depression or anxiety 

“Prevention is not passive—it is active, relational, and evidence-based,” said Woodard. “Family Connects helps families address challenges before they become emergencies.” 

This April, Family Connects urges policymakers, health systems, funders, and community leaders to invest in primary prevention strategies that support families universally—before maltreatment occurs. 

“If we want to prevent child abuse, we must support parents when they need it most,” said Woodard. “The data are clear: early, universal, nurse-led support saves lives.” 

National Nutrition Month Underscores the Critical Role of Early Nutrition in Supporting Healthy Families from the Start 

In recognition of National Nutrition Month, Family Connects International (FCI) is highlighting the essential role nutrition plays in early childhood development—and the importance of supporting parents with trusted, evidence-based guidance during the postpartum period. 

Nutrition in the first weeks and months of life is foundational to infant brain development, physical growth, immune health, and long-term well-being. At the same time, new parents—particularly mothers recovering from childbirth—often face nutritional challenges of their own, including fatigue, food insecurity, lack of support, and limited access to reliable information. 

Family Connects International addresses these challenges through its universal, evidence-based nurse home visiting model, in which registered nurses support families shortly after birth—helping parents understand both their newborn’s nutritional needs and their own. 

“Nutrition is not just about feeding—it’s about supporting healthy development, recovery, and confidence during a critical life transition,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects International. Our nurses help families navigate nutrition with clarity, compassion, and practical guidance.” 

We can support Newborn Nutrition and Early Development by: 

• Provide education on infant feeding, including breastfeeding, formula feeding, and responsive feeding practices 

• Help parents understand hunger cues, growth patterns, and developmental milestones 

• Address common concerns such as feeding challenges, weight gain, and sleep-nutrition connections 

• Reinforce evidence-based guidance while respecting family preferences and cultural practices 

It’s important to remember, however, that healthy newborn development starts with supporting parents and their nutritional and well-being needs. It’s important to: 

• Discuss nutritional needs for recovery, energy, and mental health 

• Screen for food insecurity and access barriers 

• Connect families to community nutrition supports such as WIC, SNAP, food pantries, and primary care 

• Reinforce nourishment as a core component of caregiver well-being 

“Parents want to do the best for their babies, but they also need support themselves,” said Alain Glen, Chief of Nursing at FCI. “When caregivers are nourished, informed, and supported, the whole family benefits.” 

Nutrition education and access are powerful tools for prevention—reducing stress, supporting mental health, and strengthening family stability. By integrating nutrition guidance into a holistic postpartum visit, the Family Connects model helps reduce preventable health concerns, improve connections to primary and preventive care, and advance equity by ensuring all families receive support. 

This National Nutrition Month, Family Connects International calls on health systems, policymakers, funders, and community partners to recognize early nutrition education as a cornerstone of maternal and infant health—and to invest in nurse-led, preventive models that support families where they are. 

“Nutrition is one of the earliest investments we can make in a child’s future,” said Jade Woodard. “When families are supported with knowledge and connection, outcomes improve for generations.” 

Women’s History Month Honors the Power of Prevention in Advancing Maternal Health and Well-Being 

As the nation celebrates Women’s History Month, Family Connects International (FCI) is recognizing the critical role maternal health plays in advancing women’s well-being—and the importance of preventive, equitable systems of care that support women during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. 

For generations, women—particularly mothers—have carried the physical, emotional, and economic weight of caregiving, often without adequate support. Today, maternal mental health conditions such as postpartum depression and anxiety remain among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting women across all backgrounds and communities. 

Yet too often, postpartum care is fragmented, delayed, or inaccessible—leaving many women to navigate recovery and early motherhood alone. 

“Women’s health does not stop at delivery,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects International. “Supporting mothers in the weeks and months after birth is essential—not only to their health, but to the health of families and communities. Prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have.” 

With the right support at the right time, we can support:  

• Physical recovery after birth 

• Emotional well-being and identity during the transition to motherhood 

• Access to care and long-term health outcomes 

• Family stability and infant development 

Despite their prevalence, many maternal mental health concerns go undetected or untreated—particularly among women facing structural barriers such as limited access to care, racial inequities, insurance gaps, or social isolation. 

Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to not only honor progress, but to address the gaps that remain. 

How the Family Connects Model Supports Women 

• Registered nurses conduct postpartum visits, assessing maternal physical health, mental health, and social needs. 

• Early screening and education help identify concerns before they escalate into crises. 

• Care coordination connects women directly to primary care, behavioral health services, and community supports. 

• Universal access promotes equity, ensuring women are not excluded from care due to income, race, or insurance status. 

• Research demonstrates improved outcomes, including better maternal mental health, reduced emergency medical use, and stronger connections to preventive care. 

“When women receive early, trusted support, outcomes improve across the board,” said Kim Friedman JD, Chief Program Officer at FCI. “The Family Connects model shows what’s possible when systems are designed to support women—not just during pregnancy, but beyond it.” 

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate leadership, resilience, and progress—but also to recommit to building systems that truly support women’s health and well-being. 

Family Connects International calls on health systems, policymakers, funders, and community partners to invest in preventive postpartum care models that centers maternal mental health, reduce disparities, and strengthen families from the very beginning. 

“Supporting mothers is one of the most effective ways to support women,” said Jade Woodard. “When women thrive, families thrive—and communities are stronger for it.” 

For more information, visit familyconnects.org.