health

April 29, 2026

New Orleans program does free house calls for new mothers. It’s saving many from going over a postpartum ‘cliff’

Family Connects New Orleans provides crucial postpartum support to mothers through home-based nurse visits

New Orleans program does free house calls for new mothers. It’s saving many from going over a postpartum ‘cliff’

TL;DR

  • Family Connects New Orleans (FCNO) provides free, in-home nurse visits to new mothers within 12 weeks of birth.
  • Eligibility is open to Orleans Parish residents who give birth at Ochsner Baptist or Touro hospital, regardless of income or insurance.
  • Nurses conduct clinical evaluations, social service assessments, screen for postpartum depression, offer breastfeeding support, and connect families to community resources.
  • The program addresses the "postpartum cliff" where mothers' resources are lowest and support systems can fall away.
  • FCNO aims to improve maternal and infant health, reduce Medicaid spending, and build trust in the healthcare system.
  • The program originated nationally as Family Connects and started in New Orleans in August 2023.

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