New York City parents will soon have access to free home visiting services, as part of a new program aimed at addressing postnatal mental health across the five boroughs.
The initiative was unveiled by NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray at a press conference on Wednesday. Under the New Family Home Visits program, all first-time parents will be eligible for six home visits offering a "comprehensive health education."
They will also be connected to resources on infant feeding, safe sleep, and benefits programs, along with mental health screenings for anxiety and depression.
“Home visits are proven to strengthen bonds between parents and their babies, lower the risk for maternal anxiety and depression, and support healthy brain development during a crucial time," McCray said in a statement.
Studies show that as many as 80 percent of new mothers experience worry, unhappiness, and fatigue after delivery, and that nearly 15 percent suffer from postpartum depression.
McCray has spoken openly about her struggles with motherhood — comments that were seized upon at the time by the city's tabloids. She's previously launched initiatives related to postnatal mental health, including a program to educate new mothers on maternal depression before they leave the hospital.
McCray has also faced scrutiny over her $850 million mental health initiative ThriveNYC, which offers round-the-clock counseling to New Yorkers in 200 languages, via phone, text or online form, among other mental-health related services. Critics say ThriveNYC failed to collect enough data to adequately evaluate the impact of its programs.
New Family Home Visits, which is slated to cost $43 million through 2024, will not be under the umbrella of ThriveNYC, according to the city.
The program will start off in Brooklyn this spring, and aims to reach 45,000 families across the city when fully implemented.
