Rep. Humphrey Announces $635k for Infant and Maternal Home Visit Pilot Program

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Latyna M. Humphrey  (D-Columbus) today announced that the Controlling Board has approved funding for a new, evidence-based home visit pilot program designed to provide in-home support to new moms and families in the postpartum period. The initiative is part of a suite of new programs aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality rates and improving early childhood outcomes across Ohio.

"By providing essential support and resources during the critical postpartum period, we are addressing the stark disparities in maternal health outcomes. In Ohio, the infant mortality rate for Black infants is 14.3 per 1,000 live births, compared to 5.1 for white infants, and Black women are more than two times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women. Family Connects aims to promote equity by ensuring all new families have access to the support they need, helping to close these gaps and build healthier communities across Ohio," said Rep. Humphrey.

The program, Family Connects, will offer all new families a nurse home visit around three weeks after the family brings their baby home. During the visit, the nurse will be able to offer guidance & support, answer questions, and address any concerns the new parents may have while in the home; the program will also be designed to better connect families with additional clinical or community support if needed. The home visits will begin in the summer with the goal of serving approximately 4,000 new families across 11 counties within the first year of the program.