Family Connects
Last updated: 2014
In brief
Evidence of model effectiveness
This model meets the criteria established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an “evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model” for the general population, but does not meet the criteria for tribal populations.
Model description
Family Connects is a universal nurse home visiting model available to all families with newborns residing within a defined service area. The model aims to support families’ efforts to enhance maternal and child health and well-being and reduce rates of child abuse and neglect. It consists of one to three nurse home visits, typically when the infant is 2 to 12 weeks old, and follow-up contacts with families and community agencies to confirm families’ successful linkages with community resources. During the initial home visit, a nurse conducts a physical health assessment of the mother and newborn, screens families for potential risk factors associated with mother’s and infant’s health and well-being, and may offer direct assistance (such as guidance on infant feeding and sleeping). If a family has a significant risk or need, the nurse connects the family to community resources. Program staff collaborate with the local department of social services and other local agencies that serve families with children from birth to age 5 years. The model began as a pilot under the name Durham Connects and is being replicated under the name Family Connects. For more information, please read the Model Overview.
Extent of evidence
For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEE’s methods and standards.
Criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Notes: If the model does not meet criterion 3 but meets criteria 1 and 2 based on findings from subgroups, the impacts must be replicated in the same domain in two or more studies using non-overlapping analytic study samples. HomVEE assesses and reports criteria 4 and 5 for all models that have well-designed research, but meeting those two criteria is only required of models for which all findings are from randomized controlled trials. Please read the HHS criteria for evidence-based models for more information.