Diana Rauner launches newborn home-visit program

FREEPORT, Ill. (AP) - Illinois First Lady Diana Rauner has launched a newborn support program.

The pilot home-visit program is called Illinois Family Connects. It is administered by the Stephenson County Health Department and is available to families with new babies. Gov. Bruce Rauner's office announced the launch Monday.

Diana Rauner says that offering every new parent a home visit to provide information, support and resources can help children thrive.

The pilot program is based at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois. It will provide families with free support services including a house call from a community nurse and wellness checks.

The program comes from a task force co-chaired by Diana Rauner and a public-private partnership funded through federal and state grants. It was originally developed in Durham, North Carolina.