Healey Requested Funds to Expand Nursing Program
The Massachusetts governor seeks $2 million to increase home visits for families with newborns.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has requested $2 million to significantly expand the Welcome Family program. This initiative provides nurse-led home visits for families with newborns to offer health assessments and support.
Why it matters
The proposed expansion aims to transform the program from a limited service into a universal resource for all families across Massachusetts. By increasing access to nurse visits, the state intends to ensure comprehensive support and mental health screenings for new parents.
The program currently serves 3,000 births annually, a figure the state aims to increase to 68,000 births per year. In 2025, the program conducted 1,620 postpartum depression screenings, resulting in 208 positive detections.
The players
Maura Healey
Maura Healey is the Governor of Massachusetts who oversees state health initiatives and requested the new funding.
Lindsay Clancy
Lindsay Clancy is a Duxbury woman who killed her three children in 2023, an event that highlighted the need for postpartum mental health intervention.
Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis Schlafly was a conservative activist who wrote a 1999 column expressing skepticism regarding home-visiting programs.
The details
Nurses visit homes to provide advice on newborn care and home safety while screening for postpartum mental health concerns. Every person who screened positive for depression in 2025 received a direct referral for professional services.
Timeline
In 1999, Phyllis Schlafly wrote a column warning about home-visiting programs.
In 2023, Lindsay Clancy killed her three children in their home in Duxbury.
In 2025, the program conducted 1,620 postpartum depression screenings.
On September 23, 2026, the proposed program expansion was reported.
Market Landscape
This proposal reflects a broader shift toward integrating standardized mental health screening into early childhood healthcare systems. It positions Massachusetts to lead in public-health outreach by expanding a service that previously reached only a small fraction of the population.
Families across the state may soon have increased access to professional nursing support and mental health screenings in their own homes. This change could lower barriers to entry for essential care services for new parents throughout the state.
The takeaway
The expansion underscores the critical role of home-based nurse visits in identifying postpartum mental health challenges early. Families should be aware that participation in this service remains voluntary, regardless of the program scale.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's clinical workforce by visiting /business/jobs/nursing-jobs/.
Live Poll
Do you support government-funded nurse home visits for families with newborns?
