Nurse home visiting program set to launch in Coos County

The South Coast Early Learning Hub is announcing its new partnership with Coos Health & Wellness, focused on supporting the community’s families in ensuring newborns have an early start to lifelong health.

Beginning in late 2025, South Coast Early Learning Hub and Coos Health & Wellness will work together to provide Family Connects Oregon (FCO) in Coos County. FCO is a no-cost, at-home nurse visiting program available to all families with a newborn.

“We are excited to partner with Coos Health & Wellness on the launch of Family Connects Oregon,” said Jessica Porter, community engagement director at South Coast Early Learning Hub. “This collaboration represents a powerful step forward in supporting families during the critical early weeks of a child’s life. Together, we’re building stronger, healthier communities by ensuring every family has support right from the start.”

Earlier this year, the newborn nurse home visiting program, Management of Maternity Services (MOMS), that served Coos County families for more than two decades was discontinued.

“These past few months, we’ve heard from countless community members about how valuable and beneficial these nurse visiting programs are for families when they bring home a newborn baby,” Porter said. “Since then, we’ve worked tirelessly with our partners to find a solution that brings newborn nurse home visiting back to Coos County. A visit from a Family Connects Oregon registered nurse can make a big difference, allowing families to freely ask questions about their newborn baby and learn about additional support programs for which they may be eligible.”

Coos Health & Wellness has extensive experience providing nurse home visiting and postpartum care, offering more long-term nurse home visiting programs including Babies First! and CaCoon. Coos Health & Wellness leaders are excited that FCO will give them the opportunity to offer every family with a newborn in Coos County a nurse home visit.

“We’re honored to partner with the South Coast Early Learning Hub to expand our Home Visiting services with the Family Connects Oregon Program later this year,” said Dr. Timothy Lynch, director of public health at Coos Health & Wellness. “Recognizing the crucial ongoing need for postpartum care for mothers and newborns and its long-term impact, we eagerly anticipate this partnership and its positive influence on our community.”

About Family Connects Oregon

FCO is a universally offered home visiting program available in 12 Oregon counties, with two more scheduled to open in late 2025. Since launching in 2021, more than 4,200 families have received services.

FCO aims to connect families with community resources that nurture the whole family. This evidence-based program offers families up to three home visits from a registered nurse (RN) starting around three weeks after the birth or adoption of a baby. The home visits are available at no cost to families, regardless of income or insurance type. Receiving a visit through FCO does not impact an individual’s public charge status. Receiving nurse home visiting services through FCO is entirely voluntary.

During a FCO visit, the RN can:

• Weigh the baby.
• Provide a wellness check for the newborn and those caring for the baby.
• Offer infant feeding support, whether the family is providing breastmilk or formula.
• Work with the family to assess their strengths, challenges and needs and identify other support services, such as peer support groups, WIC, and other home visiting programs that may be helpful for the family.

To learn more about FCO, its availability and its community-wide benefits, check out FamilyConnectsOregon.org.