Supporting mothers at home, online, and in the hospital
Bringing home a newborn during a global pandemic has its challenges, which is why nurse home and telehealth visits through the Genesis Health System Community Health Program have become even more critical this year. “There is no manual when you bring a newborn home,” said Michele Cullen, community health manager at Genesis. “I'm so proud of this program because it provides mothers with additional support.”
The program is called Family Connects. It offers mothers a one-on-one visit with a nurse that includes a complete medical assessment, a social assessment, and depression, domestic violence, and substance abuse screenings. The program started in Durham, North Carolina, as one of the first evidence-based models for at-home support. Genesis implemented the program in 2015 and was the second in the country to offer it.
Cullen said Family Connects operates through several funding sources, including a two-year grant through the Coordinated Field of Interest Grant Program at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. The funding is in its second year and has been vital in bridging the gaps between state and county funding.
The Coordinated Field of Interest Grant Program provides flexible, reliable funding to nonprofits in Rock Island and Scott Counties, explained Lisa Stachula, grantmaking specialist. “The grant program brings together multiple funds started by donors to save time and effort for applicants,” she said. “General operating support is especially crucial this year, and we’re so grateful to the donors who have provided the resources to make this program possible.”
The grant Genesis Health System received came specifically from the Amy Helpenstell Foundation Fund, started in memory of Amy E. Helpenstell to support educational programs and health, community development, youth development, and cultural activities.
Maintaining support for mothers during COVID-19 is a vital health care service. The pandemic changed how the program operates, with most visits now happening online unless a doctor-recommended home visit is the best option. “We’ve had mothers who say connecting with a nurse on a Zoom call was still so helpful because they just needed someone to talk to,” Cullen said. "They thought they would bring this baby home, and friends and family would be over to help and visit. With COVID-19, they’re home with a newborn and isolated.”
Cullen said mothers also tend to ask more questions from the comfort of their home rather than a doctor’s office and are open to additional resources in the community if they need them. The program has been proven to reduce emergency room visits and re-admissions to the hospital. "This program is about helping to keep babies safe, and parents become better parents," Cullen said. "It doesn't matter if you're a first-time parent or have three kids; this is a universal program. It’s great when a nurse can give you pointers or just let you know you’re doing a good job.”
The support of the Community Foundation is always meaningful, she added. “We live in a wonderful community, and the Community Foundation is an important part of that,” she said. “Their goal is also about building strong communities—walking hand-in-hand with them is all part of that larger picture of creating healthier communities.”