{"id":801,"date":"2026-01-15T20:20:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/nurture-nj\/?p=801"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:20:49","slug":"research-highlights-reach-and-impact-of-new-jerseys-universal-post-partum-home-visiting-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/nurture-nj\/research-highlights-reach-and-impact-of-new-jerseys-universal-post-partum-home-visiting-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Highlights Reach and Impact of New Jersey\u2019s Universal Post-Partum Home Visiting Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Original Story in Rutgers Today<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Rutgers Health researchers evaluate the early-stage implementation of Family Connects NJ and its role in advancing maternal and child health throughout the state<\/em><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

Family Connects NJ, the state\u2019s universal nurse home visitation program, has reached a diverse population of more than 3,600 families from June 2024 through May 2025, according to Rutgers Health researchers.<\/p>\n

The findings are detailed in the Rutgers School of Public Health\u2019s report, \u201cTracking the Progress of Family Connects NJ: Advancing Maternal and Child Health and Equity Across New Jersey.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous research provides evidence that universal nurse home visitation is linked to improved maternal and infant health outcomes, including breastfeeding initiation and increased attendance at postpartum visits.<\/p>\n

\"\"Rutgers\u2019 new analysis of state-level data revealed that\u00a080% of initial nurse visits were completed within three weeks of birth, exceeding\u00a0<\/span>The Family Connects International<\/a>\u00a0benchmark of completing at least 70% of home visits within 21 days.\u00a0The evaluation team said this outcome reflects the program\u2019s goal of fostering early engagement during the critical postpartum period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This analysis is part of a broader\u00a0evaluation of Nurture NJ<\/a>\u00a0being conducted by the School of Public Health and led by\u00a0Leslie M. Kantor<\/a>, a professor and chair of the school\u2019s Department of Urban-Global Public Health.<\/p>\n

\u201cImplementing statewide programs is complicated and the evaluation shows that New Jersey is making real progress toward ensuring that all New Jersey families have access to this evidence-based model,\u201d Kantor said.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2021, New Jersey passed landmark legislation and became the second state in the nation to guarantee universal nurse home visits to all families welcoming a new baby. Through\u00a0Family Connects NJ<\/a>, birth, adoptive and kinship caregivers receive a personalized 90- to 150-minute home visit by a specially trained nurse.<\/p>\n

During the visit, the nurse comprehensively assesses newborns and parents; provides education on topics such as feeding, safe sleep and postpartum recovery; and connects families with additional resources.<\/p>\n

To prepare for the rollout of Family Connects NJ, New Jersey partnered with hospitals to make it easier for families to enroll. The state also strengthened its community support network by hiring community alignment specialists in all 21 counties to build partnerships with local organizations and maintain up-to-date resource directories for families.<\/p>\n

According to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the state has served more than 8,000 families since the launch of the program in January 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn advantage of universal programs like Family Connects NJ over income-restricted models is that they promote equity and inclusivity and carry less stigma because every family has access to support,\u201d said\u00a0Felix Muchomba<\/a>, who led the analysis and is an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Social Work. \u201cWe see this in Family Connects NJ\u2019s broad reach across demographic categories, including age, race, ethnicity, language and socioeconomic status, while strongly engaging families from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"The Rutgers evaluation team found<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>Family Connects NJ plays a crucial role in linking New Jersey families to additional support services. The analysis revealed that\u00a050% of visited families were referred to other programs or services, including parenting education programs and material supports such as the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Additionally, Rutgers Health researchers found\u00a016% of families received referrals for maternal health, infant health, or caregiver well-being, such as elevated blood pressure, signs of postpartum infection and caregiver mental health.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the analysis suggests Family Connects NJ reaches a broad and diverse population, including those from historically marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Compared with New Jersey\u2019s birthing population, program participants were more likely to identify as Hispanic or Black and to have Medicaid insurance coverage. Additionally, 37% of participating families spoke Spanish at home and another 12% spoke one of more than 20 different non-English languages.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamily Connects NJ is the nation\u2019s most robust nurse home visitation program, and it is one of New Jersey\u2019s most powerful tools to ensure every new parent has access to the care and support needed in the early days of parenthood,\u201d said New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy. \u201cThrough this program, we have reached thousands of families, with 17% of in-home nurse visits resulting in a referral for a significant infant or maternal health concern that could not wait until the family\u2019s regular medical care appointment. I am thrilled that Family Connects NJ is continuing to expand, and I encourage all new parents to take advantage of this incredible resource.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to researchers, Family Connects NJ\u2019s strong early performance indicates that, as the program rolls out, it can sustain its achievements and grow its impacts. To ensure this continued success, the evaluation team recommends strategically expanding the state\u2019s sustainable home visiting workforce, analyzing program fidelity and conducting ongoing evaluation to guide future investments.<\/p>\n

To learn more and schedule a nurse visit, families can visit\u00a0FamilyConnectsNJ.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Explore more of the ways Rutgers research\u00a0<\/em>is shaping the future<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Original Story in Rutgers Today Rutgers Health researchers evaluate the early-stage implementation of Family Connects NJ and its role in advancing maternal and child health throughout the state   Family … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3810,"featured_media":804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nResearch Highlights Reach and Impact of New Jersey\u2019s Universal Post-Partum Home Visiting Program - Nurture NJ Evaluation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/nurture-nj\/research-highlights-reach-and-impact-of-new-jerseys-universal-post-partum-home-visiting-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Research Highlights Reach and Impact of New Jersey\u2019s Universal Post-Partum Home Visiting Program - Nurture NJ Evaluation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Original Story in Rutgers Today Rutgers Health researchers evaluate the early-stage implementation of Family Connects NJ and its role in advancing maternal and child health throughout the state   Family … Read More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/nurture-nj\/research-highlights-reach-and-impact-of-new-jerseys-universal-post-partum-home-visiting-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Nurture NJ Evaluation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T20:20:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/nurture-nj\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1335\/2026\/01\/AdobeStock_543667181-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nakaysha M. 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