Maternal Child Care

First Connections & Home Visiting Program

Download the First Connections brochure, either in English or Spanish.

First Connections at Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice provides free, voluntary, confidential skilled nursing home visits in Newport County and beyond to pregnant women and families with young children referred to us for special health needs. Home visits are based on the needs of each referred family.

First Connections is partially funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health and The RI Department of Human Services and other generous funders. Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice provides this service at no charge to families.

If you are an expecting parent, you may be contacted after the birth of your child to arrange a home visit. Language interpretation services can be arranged in advance of visiting.

What We Do:

  • Make home skilled nursing visits with referred families to talk about their child’s needs

Visit may include:

  • Comprehensive assessments
  • Connecting families with primary care providers and community resources
  • Health education for parents
  • Child wellness screenings
  • Interaction with the child’s healthcare provider

We accept referrals from:

  • Hospitals
  • Healthcare and social service providers
  • RI Department of Health

What You Should Do:

  • See the RI Department of Health website for more information about home visiting and the First Connections Program

Pediatric Skilled Nursing Program

By Referral only, babies and toddlers are seen by our pediatric skilled nursing staff. Have your or your child’s primary care provider contact us to refer a patient. These visits may be covered by insurance or Medicaid.

We accept referrals from:

  • Hospitals
  • Healthcare and social service providers
  • RI Department of Health