Universal Home Visitation Bill Clears First Hurdle

Every parent of a newborn in New Jersey could soon get a free at-home visit from a  nurse, thanks a bill that cleared a legislative committee this past Tuesday. Advocates for Children of New Jersey submitted testimony in support of the bill (below).  Participation would be voluntary and available to parents of newborns, including adoptive parents and parents who have experienced a stillbirth, according to the bill. Nurses would evaluate the family’s physical, emotional and social well-being, as well as provide breastfeeding support. They could also link families with community resources or any necessary follow-up care. Read NJ.com’s news article.