CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HEALTH DEPARTMENT &fl DR. JENNIFER AVEGNO, DIRECTOR - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Contact: Isis Casanova [email protected] (504)658-2529 Public Information Officer FAMILY CONNECTS NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY New Orleans, LA (August 1, 2024) Today marks a significant milestone for the New Orleans Health Department’s Family Connects New Orleans program (FCNO) as we celebrate our first anniversary. This important occasion represents a year of partnership with our city's leading birthing hospitals, Touro and Ochsner Baptist. Together, we have welcomed over 300 families into our program, providing them with support and connecting families to resources during one of the most crucial times of their lives. Our commitment to the health and well-being of newborns and their families has been unwavering, and we are thrilled to see our program's positive impact on the community. As we reflect on the past year's achievements, we are grateful for the trust placed in us by the families we serve and are inspired to continue our mission in the future. FCNO is an evidence-based program that offers personalized care to postpartum families and their newborns through home visits by registered nurses. These nurses help families find and access community resources to address the challenges and barriers they face during their child's first year of life. How does the program work? FCNO provides one to three free in-home visits to parents of newborns up to 12 weeks old who have given birth at Ochsner Baptist or Touro Infirmary and live in Orleans Parish. Before leaving the hospital, families schedule a visit with a registered nurse around three weeks postpartum. Each home visit includes health screenings for the mother and baby, and a family assessment for environmental, behavioral, and social needs, with direct referrals for additional services if needed. Research indicates that mothers who take part in Family Connects have a lower incidence of postpartum depression and anxiety. Parents also become more connected to and make greater use of community resources, resulting in lower hospital emergency care for their children as the overall health and wellness of families improve. Current data shows concerning patterns in maternal and infant outcomes at the state and local levels. In Louisiana, the majority of pregnancy-associated deaths occur in the first six weeks after birth, and most of these deaths are preventable. To sign up or find out more about Family Connects New Orleans, please email us at [email protected] or visit nola.gov/fcno. New Orleans Health Department Mission: To promote, protect, and improve the health of all in our community through equitable policies, programs, and partnerships.  # # # Stay Connected with the New Orleans Health Department 4hiealth department Facebook   Twitter   SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |   |  Help - This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of New Orleans, Louisiana · 1300 Perdido St. · New Orleans, LA 70112 GovDelivery logo