TRENTON, N.J. – As part of New Jersey's efforts to expand Family Connects NJ — the state's universal nurse home visitation program — the Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) has awarded contracts to two partner agencies to offer free nurse visits to every family with a newborn in an additional six counties. Beginning January 2025, this program will continue in Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, and Middlesex Counties and expand to Somerset, Sussex, Passaic, Hudson, Bergen, and Ocean Counties.
The law establishing a universal nurse home visitation program was signed by Governor Murphy in July 2021. This initiative makes New Jersey the second state in the nation to advance such a program designed to support parents welcoming a newborn through childbirth, adoption, or foster care placement. It also supports families that have experienced stillbirth or neonatal loss. Family Connects NJ is a key component of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative.
Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are a leading cause of preventable pregnancy-related deaths in New Jersey. The New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that most pregnancy-related deaths occur postpartum. In March this year alone, 14% of nurse home visits resulted in emergency room referrals for conditions that required immediate attention, with post-partum hypertension being the most common reason.
In January 2024, the program launched in five counties: Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer and Middlesex. Families can schedule their post-partum visit with a nurse at Schedule Your Visit -- County Select | Family Connects NJ.
Governor Phil Murphy stated: “Having a strong support system during the early days of parenthood is crucial... Through Family Connects NJ... new mothers and their babies can access the care and resources they need.”
First Lady Tammy Murphy added: “Family Connects NJ is the most robust universal nurse home visitation program in the nation... I am thrilled to continue our planned expansion as we enter six additional counties starting in January.”
NJ DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer said: “Through Family Connects NJ... families will get a nurse visit at home... ensuring both parent and baby are doing well.”
Governor Murphy’s FY2025 budget sustains investment for services continuity in existing counties while expanding into new ones until it is available statewide.
Family Connects NJ offers free voluntary visits from specially trained registered nurses (RNs) or advanced practice nurses (APNs) within approximately two weeks of birth. Families may receive up to three visits depending on needs but typically one 90-minute visit suffices.
The expansion was awarded through an open bid via formal request for proposals process. Central Jersey Family Health Consortium and Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ Inc., will implement services into six new counties starting January 2025.
Approximately 46% of UHV staff are multilingual; translation services are arranged when necessary. Since January 2024 nurse visits have been conducted in seventeen languages other than English including Spanish French Brazilian Portuguese Haitian Creole Hindi supporting unique community needs.
Katherine Stoehr First Deputy Commissioner at DCF noted: "The beauty of this program is that specialized nurses address many questions all new parents have... having professional explain things ... helps build parents’ confidence."
Evidence-based Family Connects model implemented nationwide has shown reductions in postpartum depression anxiety emergency department visits overnight hospital stays child protective services involvement increased family connections community resources educational materials
Sanford Starr Assistant Commissioner for DCF’s Division of Family Community Partnerships said "Our data shows how lifesaving this program has truly been."
A statewide network Connecting NJ hubs helps connect providers programs communities providing educational resources about eligible services programs
To learn more about Family Connects NJ visit https://www.familyconnectsnj.org/
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