In New Orleans, a quiet but meaningful shift is underway in how families experience the earliest weeks of life with a newborn. Family Connects New Orleans, a no-cost program offered through the City of New Orleans Health Department, is working to make comprehensive postpartum care more accessible, especially for families who may otherwise struggle to find support during this critical time.
Launched in partnership with Touro and Ochsner Baptist, the initiative ensures that eligible families receive at least three in-home visits from a licensed nurse in the weeks following birth. The visits offer practical guidance, health assessments, and emotional support at a moment when many parents are still finding their footing. The initiative is part of a larger push to confront ongoing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
“Family Connects New Orleans has been serving the community since October 2023 under the successful model that families feel more comfortable in their own homes and are more forthcoming about their postpartum needs,” said Shelby Wynne, Program Manager for Family Connects. “Each visit lasts about an hour or two and is completely tailored to the mother and child. Our nurses are trained to meet families where they are, to listen without judgment, and to ensure that both mom and baby have what they need to thrive.”
A typical Family Connects visit occurs when the baby is around three weeks old. Nurses spend the visit focusing on three core areas:
Maternal health. Nurses conduct screenings for postpartum depression, assess physical recovery, discuss feeding and healing, and connect mothers to additional services such as primary care, lactation support, counseling, or community programs.
Infant health. Nurses observe the baby’s weight, vitals, feeding patterns, and developmental milestones. Many parents use this time to ask about latching, formula preparation, sleep routines, and common newborn concerns.
Home environment. The nurse assesses safe sleep practices, helps families identify potential hazards such as unsecured firearms, and collaborates with parents to create the safest environment possible.
The goal is simple but powerful: to make sure both the newborn and the mother are supported during what can be one of the most vulnerable periods in their lives.
“Addressing the concerns of mothers from the outset, even just giving them the confidence that they are not alone, is a life changer,” said Isis Casanova, spokesperson for the New Orleans Health Department. “Not everyone has the support they need. All families sometimes need a little extra guidance. I remember my own fear as a new mom, worrying I would drop the baby while bathing. Even small worries can feel isolating. Family Connects steps in at exactly the right moment. And with one hundred percent positive testimonial feedback from clients, we know the impact is real.”
Family Connects New Orleans also prioritizes cultural responsiveness. Nurses are matched thoughtfully to the communities they serve, and translation services are available to ensure every family feels seen, heard, and fully understood. The program is currently in a pilot phase, but the vision extends beyond Orleans Parish. Leaders hope to eventually expand into rural and underserved regions where postpartum care remains limited.
“We want to help rebuild a village mentality around raising children, a network parents can trust,” Wynne said. “Sometimes the biggest support is something as simple as holding the baby so a mom can take a shower. If it matters to the family, it matters to us. That is what we are here for.”
Across Louisiana, new mothers face both medical and emotional hurdles, often without the day-to-day reassurance many need. Family Connects New Orleans aims to fill that gap, bridging the space between the delivery room and the months that follow. As the program grows, city leaders hope it will help shape a future in which every mother and baby in Louisiana receives care with dignity, compassion, and stability.
Learn more at nola.gov/FCNO.
