A local public health organization is offering home visit support to new parents—particularly new moms—to residents in North Shore communities to promote health starts for families.
The North Shore Mother Visiting Partnership (NS MVP) is continuing its support of new mothers in communities that include Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Lynn, Manchester, Marblehead, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, and Wenham.
The program offers free, one-time home visits from public health nurses to help new mothers adjust to life with their newborns.
Founded in 2017, NS MVP is a collaborative initiative of public health nurses dedicated to supporting new mothers in the North Shore area. Through free, one-time home visits, the partnership provides essential health education and resources to help mothers, and their families thrive.
The nurse will visit a mother or caregiver, ideally within the first 12 weeks, but up to one year of giving birth or adopting a baby, regardless of the mother’s age, insurance, income, or number of children. There are no requirements, and the confidential visit will last approximately one and a half hours and can take place in the mother’s home or at a mutually agreed upon location.
Funded by the Essex County Community Foundation and the DPH Public Health Excellence Grant, NS MVP works to bridge the postpartum care gap and ensures that new mothers receive professional, compassionate support at a critical time in their lives. Nurses provide valuable guidance on newborn care, breastfeeding, maternal health, and local resources, promoting a healthy start for both mother and baby. Additionally, they offer a CPR demonstration (not certification) and bring diapers and other items for mom, baby, and siblings to the visit.
NS MVP’s goal is to make sure every new mother feels supported and empowered. By offering these free home visits, they aim to provide the necessary resources and reassurance that can make a significant difference in the early stages of motherhood. The universal program puts the focus on the Mom, not just the baby, giving Mom space to share her story.
One participant said, “The nurse was so sweet and reassuring. I was really impressed with the nurse’s knowledge and concern for mom’s health as well as baby’s.”
