HISTORY

The seeds of Durham Connects began in 2004, when Dr. Kenneth Dodge, director of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University, recognized the success of three existing programs and formalized them into one complimentary program called Durham Connects. Partnering with the Center for Child & Family Health, the Durham County Health Department, and Social Services, the program was launched in 2008.

I. The Durham County Health Department saw great results when visiting newborns of Medicaid covered parents, but its funding and reach were limited.

II. The Durham Family Initiative, a program targeting at-risk children funded by the Duke Endowment, was successful in creating neighborhood based improvements in child well-being.

III. The Network of Care successfully provided the first electronic public database of Durham’s human service agencies.

After two years of planning, piloting and training, Durham Connects launched its first phase of community-wide nurse visits in July 2008. Phase two rolled-out in January 2011 to cover the entire county. Visit the Overview page to learn if you are eligible for a visit.