The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths of any high-income nation, with the maternal mortality rate being highest for Black women. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable, but the United States lacks maternity care providers, after birth home visits and paid parental leave policies to protect and support parents. Read below to hear how Lincoln, NE Mayor Leiron Gaylor Baird is aiming to support families and increase access to healthcare for Lincoln residents through its Family Connects program.
Can you please describe the Family Connects program and how it operates?
We’re on a mission to make Lincoln the safest and healthiest capital city in the country, and Family Connects is helping us achieve that goal for Lincoln’s littlest residents. Working in partnership with our local hospitals, this voluntary program provides families with newborn children home visits from friendly, knowledgeable public health nurses who lend a helping hand, listen and answer questions, and provide support and resources to get their children off to a healthy start. Universally available to any Lincoln and Lancaster County residents welcoming a new baby, Family Connects demonstrates our commitment to serving all in our community.
As Mayor, what have been the main barriers to getting this work started/accomplished?
Our primary challenges have revolved around initial staffing and community outreach. Hiring additional Public Health Nurses remains a priority, while efforts to increase awareness and engagement among healthcare providers and community organizations are ongoing.
How are you attempting to overcome these barriers?
We actively recruit new nurses through Human Resources and leverage the positive experiences of those Family Connects serves, like the Registered Nurse who joined our team after experiencing the benefits of the program firsthand. To raise awareness and facilitate referrals, public health nurses conduct routine visits to healthcare providers and present to community-based organizations.
What key successes or breakthroughs would you like to share?
Data teams from our health department and the hospital worked together to automate the delivery of new patient data every morning (M-F) directly from the hospital to the Family Connects system. This gives our public health nurses the ability to connect with families quickly. Our Community Advisory Board also plays a pivotal role, offering valuable insights and fostering partnerships to enhance outreach efforts. Since launching last August, we have already served over 700 unique families through Family Connects.
What learning lessons would you offer to other mayors on successful and effective leadership around childcare and promoting public health services?
Garnering support from elected officials is crucial for realizing the vision of such programs. With a joint City-County Health Department such as ours, this meant securing resources and approval from both the City Council and County Board in order to fund and execute the program. Close working relationships with local hospitals, health care providers, and non-profits, combined with meticulous planning, training, and infrastructure development by our Health team prior to implementation, have helped ensure Family Connects is robust and successful.
Universal home visitation initiatives can have a transformative impact on the lives of those we serve. By prioritizing the health and well-being of both newborns and their families, we’re poised to make tangible improvements to maternal and infant outcomes. I urge fellow mayors and city leaders to consider implementing similar programs in their own communities. When we embrace this opportunity to invest in the well-being of our families, we create a brighter, healthier future for all our residents.
For more information, visit https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Health-Department/CHS/Family-Connects-Home-Visitation.