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Public-health nurses urge Senate to fully fund Family Connects home-visiting program in HB 96
Summary
Local public-health nurses and the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners asked the Senate to restore governor-level funding for evidence-based Family Connects home visits (Help Me Grow line item) to expand postpartum nursing visits statewide.
Public-health nurses and county health directors urged the Senate to restore the governor’s proposed funding for Family Connects Ohio — an evidence-based in-home nurse-visit program embedded in Help Me Grow — saying early postpartum visits reduce ER use and lower postpartum anxiety.
Testimony summary: Emily Hosington (Darke County), Ben Robinson (Association of Ohio Health Commissioners) and others described pilot sites already delivering Family Connects and provided program outcomes cited by advocates: a 50% reduction in emergency-room visits and a 28% reduction in postpartum anxiety were noted from program evaluations. Hosington described a case where early intervention after a neonatal death changed the pathway of care and emphasized home visitors’ ability to screen for postpartum depression earlier than the usual six-week checkup.
Why it matters: Witnesses framed Family Connects as cost-effective prevention: testimony cited returns of up to $5.70 for every $1 invested in home-visiting programs. They asked the Senate to restore the governor's request for full funding across eligible local health departments so the program can expand beyond current pilot sites.
Ending: No vote occurred; witnesses requested reinstating the governor’s funding levels for the Help Me Grow / Family Connects line items in HB 96.
