Family Connects International (FCI) is committed to
strengthening bonds for families with newborns and linking them
directly to supportive community care resources through
universal newborn nurse home visiting.Our vision is a world with equitable outcomes for each and every newborn.
The United States is facing a maternal mortality public health crisis and has the highest pregnancy-related death rate among developed nations. That rate rose a staggering 40% in 2021 compared to the previous year[1]. How is this happening in a country with one of the most advanced health care systems in the world?
Family Connects is a universal solution to a preventable crisis. The policy team at FCI is committed to advocating for sustainability of Family Connects on the national, state, and local levels of government. Our policy priorities for 2023-2024 include:
Additional Resources:
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center: State Policy Level Checklists
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center recently shared the newest State Policy Lever Checklists that provide a breakdown of the policy components state leaders should consider when setting priorities or drafting legislation. There is a checklist for Comprehensive Screening and Connection Programs that focuses primarily on Family Connects, DULCE, and Healthy Steps.
The Checklists include a comprehensive list of policy levers, from eligibility requirements to generosity of benefits, administration, and funding mechanisms. They also call out considerations to support equitable program implementation.
The Evidence:
Family Connects is an evidence-based model that supports all families of newborns. Two randomized controlled trials of Family Connects were conducted in Durham, NC, when the model was formerly called Durham Connects. We continue to engage in high quality research to drive data-driven improvement of the Family Connects Model.
Read more about the evidence to support Family Connects on our research page.
COMING SOON!
Check back here for our legislative tracker.
Meet The Team:
Melea Rose-Waters
As a registered lobbyist, Melea develops FCI’s policy agenda on the local, state, and federal levels and coordinates policy outreach for local community partners.
Max Van Horn
Max is a undergraduate student at Auburn University, studying Global Studies in Human Sciences and Public Health.