“Massachusetts health officials are planning an ambitious effort to help new parents and babies.

“Their aim is to deploy nurses to visit the homes of every baby in the state within eight weeks of birth. The program, called Welcome Family, would be optional, and available to all parents for free once the rollout is complete in late 2027.

“While there are other programs in Massachusetts and other states that offer home visits during the postpartum period, they are not available to all families. State officials said this would be the first state-run program of its kind in the country, seeking to serve the families of some 68,000 babies born each year in Massachusetts.

“ ‘Ultimately, our goal would be to reach as many births as possible,’ said Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, director of family health programs at the state Department Public Health.

“ ‘The goal is really to serve as an entry point into the early childhood system of care for families with newborns,’ ” she said.

— “Mass. has a plan to help new moms and babies: free home visits for all,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR, March 16, 2026