Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced plans to expand a taxpayer-funded program that sends nurses into the homes of new mothers and fathers after their babies are born.

“Everybody in the state, when you have a baby, you’re going to have a home visit. You’re going to have a home visit within days, weeks and that will be an opportunity for a healthcare provider to make an assessment to see if you need some additional support and resources,” Healey said during an interview on Boston Public Radio.

Watch below [starting at 1:20]:

Fox News shared further:

Healey also said the state is investing in training healthcare providers to better identify the signs of postpartum mental health conditions.

The announcement comes amid heightened public attention to postpartum mental health in Massachusetts during the high-profile trial of Lindsay Clancy, the former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three young children in January 2023. In a case ultimately declared a mistrial because of a deadlocked jury, Clancy’s defense argued she was suffering from severe postpartum mental illness. The case has reignited debate over how postpartum mental health conditions are identified and treated.

ADVERTISEMENT

State officials say the program is intended to improve maternal health outcomes by connecting families with additional support.

The announcement also sparked debate on social media, where some users questioned whether the program represented an appropriate role for government. “Doctors and pediatricians are more than capable to conduct appropriate screenings for their patients. Say no to home visits,” one user wrote on X, while another called the program “creepy” and “massive government overreach.”

Not everyone opposed the proposal outright. “More overreach. However, if it’s an offer, and not a mandate, it could be a good thing for some young families and single moms,” comedian Bob Phillips wrote on X.

“Becoming a mother is a profound life change, and every parent deserves support—not just during pregnancy, but in the months that follow,” Healey said.

“Postpartum depression, anxiety and other maternal mental health conditions are real medical conditions, and no mother should feel ashamed to ask for help or feel like she has to navigate this journey alone. We’re working to expand postpartum care, identify concerns earlier and connect families to the mental health support they need, because taking care of moms means taking care of the whole family,” she added.

“We’re strengthening the system around new parents so that no matter where they turn for care, there’s someone who knows what to look for and how to help,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.

“By expanding home visits, improving screening and giving providers more tools, we can help mothers get connected to the care they need sooner and closer to home,” she continued.

“Welcoming a baby is one of life’s greatest joys — and one of its biggest challenges. I’m taking action so every Massachusetts family gets support from the start, including home visits from nurses, earlier screenings, and better access to care,” Healey wrote on X.

“No new mom or family should have to navigate it alone,” she added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Medical Daily has more:

Welcome Family offers parents and caregivers a free, one-time home visit from an experienced maternal and child health nurse in the first few weeks after birth, WBUR reported. Participation would be voluntary. The nurse can answer questions about feeding, sleep, and newborn care, check on the mother’s recovery, screen for depression and other mental health concerns, and offer referrals.

Healey said the funding would be the state’s first investment in the federally funded program. State officials did not say exactly how many more families the $2 million would reach, but Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said he hopes it will allow the state to serve all families who opt in, The Boston Globe reported.

“This expansion by $2 million will let us go all across the state, every community, every delivery,” Goldstein told CBS News Boston.

Healey also proposed $250,000 for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms, known as MCPAP for Moms, which helps clinicians who treat pregnant and postpartum patients get psychiatric consultation. She directed the Department of Public Health to update state regulations on perinatal mental health screening. According to the governor’s office, the updated rules are expected to cover a broader range of conditions than postpartum depression and to add more opportunities for screening during visits with obstetricians, primary care providers, pediatricians, and other health care workers.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.