Maryland Passes Bills to Increase Support for Newborns

Big News for Maryland Families!

A new Workgroup on Newborn Home Visiting Services has been established thanks to the passage of HB0334/SB0156, a major step forward in supporting parents and newborns across the state.

The workgroup will bring together health experts, community leaders, and state agencies to examine how we can strengthen and expand home visiting services for newborns—ensuring all families get the care and support they need right from the start.

Sponsored by Senator @klewisyoung , Delegate Ken Kerr, the bill was officially signed into law by Governor Wes Moore. This bill would not have been pasted if not for the leadership and support of so many wonderful advocates, including Pilar Olivo (FCI Board of Directors member/Family Connects Frederick County Executive Project Manager), Stacey Brown(executive director of The Family Tree of Maryland/Family Connects Maryland), Jennifer Iverson (executive director of Child Resource Connect/Family Connects Prince George’s County), Jessica Fitzwater (Frederick County Executive)  and many others.

Stronger starts mean stronger futures!


FCI 2025 Nursing Awards

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI 2025 Nursing Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI 2025 Nursing Awards: Leader of the Year

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI 2025 Nursing Awards: Preceptor of the Year

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI 2025 Nursing Awards: Good Catch

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI 2025 Nursing Awards: Rising Star

On behalf of all of us at Family Connects International, congratulations on your recognition this week! As a parent myself, I can attest to the profound impact of a supportive nurse visit when welcoming an infant. As the new CEO of FCI, I want to underscore the importance of our relationships with all of our partners in implementing this incredible model across the country!

Whether it be through a kind word, a gentle smile, a bit of wisdom, or a critical catch, nurses are at the heart of our work. Together, we can change the way families in our nation are supported from the very beginning. I am grateful for your leadership, partnership, and dedication.
-Jade Woodard, FCI CEO

FCI WELCOMES NEW CEO

Dear Family Connects Partners, 

On behalf of the board of directors, we are pleased to announce that Jade Woodard will become the next president and CEO of Family Connects International (FCI).  

Jade is a visionary leader for maternal and child health with a passion for serving families. She also has a deep understanding of what it takes to successfully implement the evidence-based Family Connects model, serving the unique needs of all families in communities across her home state of Colorado. We are thrilled that she will bring her formidable skill set and perspective to serve the community partners implementing Family Connects across the United States.  

Jade comes to FCI from Illuminate Colorado, where she has served as executive director since 2016. She brings years of experience leading organizational growth, partnering with government and community entities, scaling evidence-based programs, demonstrating impact, and ensuring that the voices of impacted families are at the table.

“Families are unique and beautiful. The support and resources they need must be accessible, responsive, and meaningful to their individual context, culture, and circumstances. I am honored to have the opportunity to promote that standard of care for families across the nation as the next president and CEO of Family Connects International.”  – Jade Woodard

With a deep passion for child development and maternal well-being, Jade brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, having trained in social work and public administration. She will begin her new role at FCI on April 21, 2025.  Please join the FCI board and staff in welcoming her!   

The board wishes to share its sincere thanks to the FCI staff, who have played such an important role throughout the leadership transition, and to Fawn Pattison, who served as interim CEO since June 2024. FCI’s search committee worked with Staci Barfield of Armstrong McGuire to conduct the nationwide search.  

FCI will invite partners to meet Jade Woodard at upcoming in-person and virtual events. 

Sincerely,

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