|
First Connections Program
First Connections at VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties provides free,
voluntary, confidential home visits in Barrington, Bristol, East Providence,
Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Warren
to pregnant women and families with young children, birth to age three. We are
funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health and Department of Human
Services.
What We Do
Conduct home visits
Trained nurses, social workers, and community health workers meet with families
in their homes to talk about their needs, answer questions they may have, and
conduct comprehensive assessments. If needed, home visitors can make
arrangements for interpretation services during home visits. If you are an
expecting parent, you may be contacted after the birth of your child to arrange
a home visit.
Engage families who may benefit from home visits
Anyone may offer to arrange a home visit for a family. We take referrals from:
- Birthing hospitals, when a newborn is discharged from the hospital. Referrals
are based on the results of the newborn developmental assessment or on the
clinical judgment of hospital staff.
- Healthcare and social service providers, if they think a child and family
would benefit from home visiting.
- Families (i.e, self-referrals).
Link families with medical homes and social services
Home visits are based on the needs of the family. Visit topics may include
health education and connections with appropriate healthcare services, human
services, and community resources. If a child does not have a medical home, we
can help the family find one. VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties can also
conduct
child wellness screenings and communicate the results with the child's
healthcare provider.
What You Should Do
- If you are interested in receiving a home visit, please call 401-682-2100 and
ask for the First Connections program. You can make a home visiting appointment
at any time if you are pregnant or have a child younger than age three.
- If you are a healthcare or social service provider, refer interested families
for home visits. Call 401-682-2100 to make an appointment or fax over a referral
form to 401-682-2112. The Department of Health has a
list of First Connections
providers by community served.
- See the Department of Health website for more information about
home visiting
and the
First Connections Program
|
