NEW JERSEY – Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Friday highlighted funding in her proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to expand New Jersey’s universal newborn home nurse visitation program statewide, aiming to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.
Speaking at CAMcare Health in Camden, Sherrill said the proposal includes nearly $49 million to grow the Family Connects NJ program, which provides free home visits from registered nurses to families with newborns.
Through the program, nurses conduct health screenings, answer questions, connect families with community resources and help ensure a safe start for both infants and parents. As of January 2026, the program has served more than 10,000 families.
“For too long, Black women have disproportionately struggled to access critical maternal health care, resulting in dangerous disparities within our State’s public health ecosystem and contributing to shocking maternal mortality rates. This is unacceptable and New Jersey mothers deserve better – but thankfully, New Jersey is on the right path forward,” said Governor Sherrill. “My budget invests in New Jersey families, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive. By expanding our free nurse home visitation program – Family Connects NJ – and continuing investments to support our work to combat maternal mortality, we are building a better future for our residents.”
The announcement coincided with Black Maternal Health Week. State data shows pregnancy-related mortality rates for Black, non-Hispanic women in New Jersey are 7.6 times higher than for white, non-Hispanic women, while rates for Hispanic women are 2.7 times higher.
Currently available in much of the state, including all of South Jersey and most of Central and North Jersey, the program is expected to expand to Union, Hunterdon, Morris and Warren counties in January 2027 under the proposal. Officials said the expansion would make New Jersey the first state to offer free nurse home visits statewide.
Lawmakers and advocates said the program helps address gaps in postpartum care and improve maternal health outcomes.
“The Universal Newborn Home Visitation Program was inspired by my own experience with a lactation nurse who visited me after my daughter was born. That time changed my outlook and showed me how vital early support can be for families during one of parenthood’s most challenging moments,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “This wraparound care is especially critical for Black mothers, who remain one of the most underserved, understudied, and underdiagnosed groups, too often overlooked in our healthcare system. With statewide expansion, we can help reduce these preventable disparities, give every growing family a strong start, and make maternal health equity not just an aspiration, but a reality in New Jersey.”
“Black Maternal Health Week underscores the urgent reality that Black mothers and their babies continue to face disproportionate, often preventable barriers within our healthcare system. It is also a moment to reflect on how we can collaborate to eliminate these inequities,” said Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez. “The Universal Newborn Home Visitation program is one way we are working to close the gap; providing free, at-home care to any family in need. Expanding this support to all counties will allow us to build on that progress, ensuring every new mother in New Jersey has the resources for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum experience.”
“I commend any efforts to invest in programs, like Universal Home Visiting, which improve maternal health outcomes and strengthen support for families. Since its inception, the program has been effective in providing essential care during the early postpartum period, which we know is critical to the health and well-being of both parent and child. However, there are still gaps in access. Additional expansion of the program will help ensure more residents can access the important resources and support they need,” said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight. “Alongside Senate Majority Leader Ruiz, I proudly sponsored the enabling legislation in the Assembly, and I am encouraged to see the program’s continued growth and impact.”
State officials said the program has already demonstrated benefits. An early evaluation found that in 18% of home visits, nurses identified serious postpartum health concerns that required immediate attention.
In addition to expanding Family Connects NJ, the proposed budget includes continued investments in maternal and infant health programs, including funding for innovation initiatives, workforce development, data collection and breastfeeding support.
Officials said the broader goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality while improving access to care and support services for families across New Jersey.
