ABOUT

OVERVIEW

Babies are like seedlings. Just as plants need sun, water and air to flourish, babies need security, nourishment and love. Growing a strong, healthy tree takes care and patience. The same goes for babies.

Fortunately, Durham County has many resources to help babies grow happy and healthy. While parents are the master gardeners, Durham Connects is like the plant food that helps babies blossom.

Durham Connects brings Families, Community agencies and Healthcare providers together to give babies the best environment for growth. The basic elements for optimum development include adequate nutrition, safe home environments, educational stimulation, nurturing parenting and high quality childcare. Durham Connects nurtures this growth by visiting parents and babies in their own homes and connecting them with community supports.

Durham Connects' mission is to increase child well-being by bridging the gap between parent needs and community resources.

Durham Connects nurses visit parents of newborns to:

• Celebrate
• Support
• Connect
• Follow-up

Durham Connects is a partnership of the Durham County Health Department and the Durham Family Initiative. The Department of Social Services provides a coordinator to make follow up home visits to parents needing social services. We are thankful to the Duke Endowment for funding Durham Connects.