UCAN already offers a nurse home-visiting program to some Douglas County families with new babies. But our existing Nurse Home Visiting Program only offers services to a fraction of these families. As a new Family Connects provider, we will be able to offer free home visits to many more families.
Anyone who has been a parent knows that a new baby affects families in many ways. Parents of new babies can face challenges bonding with their baby, feeding their new little one, addressing their baby’s health and safety needs. At the same time, parents may be sleep deprived, feel scared, or uncertain of how to match parenting styles. Parents also have new financial responsibilities while they may be adjusting to changes in their availability to work.
UCAN’s Family Connects nurses will offer home visiting services to all families with newborns up to 6 months of age, including foster and adoptive newborns. There is no income, insurance or eligibility requirement to participate in the program. At the same time, the program is completely voluntary. Nobody is required to participate.
The program will provide between one and three nurse home visits to every family with a newborn beginning at about three weeks of age. Using a tested screening tool, our nurses will evaluate both baby’s and mom’s health. Our nurses will also assess family strengths and needs, and connect the family to community resources.
A lot of families have needs after the birth of a child. While not all needs are unique, they often feel that way to the family. Even parents who have already had several children can find themselves struggling with caring for their new baby. Our registered nurses will bring the comfort and care shown to improve family well-being.
