New Jersey Governor Proposes $49 Million To Expand Free Nurse Home Visit Program Statewide

Gov. Mikie Sherrill put forward $49 million in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget to expand Family Connects NJ statewide. This marks the first complete expansion since the program began in 2024. The initiative offers free home visits from registered nurses to families with newborns in participating counties.

Sherrill stopped by CAMcare Health in Camden on Friday to announce the funding. She also acknowledged Black Maternal Health Week during her visit.

“I’ve talked a lot about how important it is to create an opportunity for every single child in the state, and now with Family Connect, we are making sure that drive for our kids starts on Day 1, quite literally that every family is having that opportunity and having great outcomes in our state,” said Sherrill, according to News 12 New Jersey.

Families with newborns can schedule a free home visit from a trained registered nurse. Nurses conduct health screenings. They answer questions. They connect families to community resources and help ensure a healthy, safe start.

More than 10,000 families received services as of January 2026. South Jersey has full access. According to Insider NJ, most of central and North Jersey can participate too, including Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, and Sussex Counties.

The new funding will bring services to Union, Hunterdon, Morris, and Warren Counties in January 2027. New Jersey will become the first state in the country to make free nurse home visits available statewide.

The announcement arrives as New Jersey grapples with stark maternal health disparities. According to New Jersey’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, pregnancy-related mortality for Black, non-Hispanic women was 7.6 times higher than for white, non-Hispanic women. Pregnancy-related mortality for Hispanic women was 2.7 times higher than for white, non-Hispanic women.

A first-year evaluation showed something striking: nurses identified a serious postpartum health concern in 18% of home visits that couldn’t wait for the next scheduled medical appointment. With NJ FamilyCare coverage lasting up to 365 days postpartum, referrals led to health interventions for moms and babies.

Five other states are pursuing universal newborn home visitation using the same model. Research has shown that programs like this can reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates.

The proposed FY 2027 budget also supports maternal health through continuous Medicaid coverage for 365 days postpartum.

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