Helping Growing Families Thrive

Family Connects Frederick County bridges gaps to promote whole-family wellness

Having a baby is an exciting life change that also brings unique challenges. Parents are often caring for their newborns while raising other children, maintaining a household, and managing their own physical and emotional wellness. To help families navigate this major life change, Frederick Health launched Family Connects Frederick County. Family Connects Frederick County is a free program that connects families and their newborns with healthcare support during this busy time, making sure they receive their essential postpartum appointment. 

“Studies show that the support and healthcare an infant receives early on in life makes a huge difference,” said Pilar Olivo, Executive Project Manager with Family Connects Frederick County. Pilar saw how similar programs worked in other communities and worked to bring that beneficial service to Frederick County with the support of Frederick Health. As a result, local families are now benefiting.

“After I gave birth, it was really stressful,” says Sharlene Diggs, a mother who learned about the program during her stay at Frederick Health Hospital. “It was nice to have someone stop by my home and answer all my questions, look at my C-section scar, and make sure we were healthy and safe.”

Home visits are a key benefit to the Family Connects program, where patients can explore their questions with the assistance of a qualified nurse in the comfort of their own space. In 2023, 2,462 babies were born at Frederick Health Hospital, each of them eligible for Family Connects services and 88% of them opted in for home visits.

Maria Wardlow, Community Alignment Specialist for Family Connects, says, “Getting to doctor visits can be really challenging. New parents are learning how to do things with a baby, they’re exhausted, and they’re relearning existence in the world with another little human being. Even with your second or third child, you’re still learning new things.”

Sharlene recalls that, “Shortly after my son was born, we could not figure out what was bothering him. He would cry for hours. During my Family Connects visit, the nurse suggested he might have a dairy or food related allergy, and she worked with us to sort out his stomach issue. The gentle formula she gave me worked best, and since then, he’s been a happy baby.”

Beyond initial medical check-ups, the program also helps new parents get involved in local social groups, play groups, and provides resources tailored to their unique needs. “Ultimately, the goal is to start families out on the path to healthiness together,” says Maria.

Maria adds, “Families thrive when they are supported. This program makes it easy and free to get that support.” Family Connects Frederick County is helping to establish lifelong healthy relationships for the newest members of our community.

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