Family Connects International is thrilled to announce the milestone of serving its 100,000th baby: newborn Liam, born on November 10, 2024. This major achievement underscores FCI’s commitment to providing essential maternal-child health services to families during the crucial first days at home, often referred to as the “Fourth Trimester.”
Liam, along with his proud parents, Destiny and Devon, received a warm welcome at their home, from a trained nurse, Karen Halpin of Family Connects Durham, who offered personalized support and guidance as the family began their journey together.
Liam’s parents are grateful for the guidance and personalized care they received. “Having a nurse come to our home right after bringing Liam home was a huge comfort,” said Destiny. “We’re thankful for the support and feel so much more confident as new parents.”
“Celebrating 100,000 babies is a landmark achievement, and we’re so happy to welcome Liam and his family into the Family Connects network,” said Dr. Jonathan Kotch, Chair of the Board of Directors for Family Connects International. “Our vision is that every family has access to the comprehensive support they need to thrive. This milestone highlights the impact of our work, and we look forward to reaching even more families in the years to come.”
Nurse Karen Halpin shared, “As a Family Connects nurse, I see firsthand how impactful it is to meet families where they are, providing the support they need during those critical early weeks. Visiting Liam and his parents was a reminder of why we do what we do – helping families feel confident and connected as they begin their journey together.”
Through its community-centered approach, Family Connects registered nurses visit families in their homes around three weeks after birth at no cost to the families, providing expert health assessments for both Baby and Parents, and connecting families to local resources for ongoing support. This unique model helps bridge the gap between the healthcare system and essential community services families need, like lactation, mental health care, and even basic needs like food pantries and diapers. Family Connects nurses offer ALL families the tools and resources they need to thrive during this critical period. FCI aims to connect with at least 60 percent of newborn families in each region it serves.
Family Connects is expanding in Frederick County, offering more families access to nurse home visits through our universal nurse home visiting program. After a year of successful visits and positive outcomes, Family Connects Frederick County is growing to reach even more families and newborns, enhancing community health and support. This expansion highlights Family Connects’ effectiveness in fostering stronger, healthier families.
“We’ve already seen what a great momentum Family Connects has for families that are delivering maybe at Frederick Health, but I feel like those moms, or those families, may not know about the visits that are delivering at other hospitals where we have staff in those hospitals to sign them up for a visit.” -Lori Sprecher, Family Connects Nurse
“…[Family Connects Nurse] brought a lot of formula which really supported my child because she had to be breastfed and formula fed due to her weight, so I thoroughly enjoyed it” -Alyssa Frederick, New Mother