Following Baby Back
Home Makes a
Difference in the Lives of
Arkansas Families
Established in 2009 by the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (UAMS) department of Pediatrics’ Kids First program,
Following Baby Back Home (FBBH), provides home visiting and
care management services to Arkansas families with high-risk
infants. Families are referred by neonatologists and primary
care physicians from local hospitals, usually while the infant is
still in the neonatal intensive-care (NICU) unit.
Following Baby Back Home addresses the physical, social, and
emotional development of children from birth through the age
of three, and is funded by the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences’ ANGELS program in cooperation with
Arkansas Medicaid and a federal Maternal, Infant, and Early
Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant.
HOME VISITOR
“HONORED” TO
SERVE ARKANSAS
FAMILIES
“I love going into the homes to
care for these children. When
these parents come home with
their babies they may feel
overwhelmed after being
surrounded with doctors and
nurses in a NICU.
They now find themselves
alone with their babies. In our
case in south Arkansas, these
parents find themselves many
miles away from the NICU
setting where they felt
comfortable caring for their
child. It is an honor to be able
to go into the home and
provide these parents with
support with their children in
their homes…”
Following Baby Back Home
Program Goals
1. To reduce preventable re-hospitalizations
2. Improve adherence to medical appointments
and immunizations
3. To provide assistance in identifying local
resources to meet the service needs of the
baby
4. To build the family’s skills and confidence in
providing a safe, nurturing home for their baby
Teams Ensure Continuity of Care
Upon discharge from the NICU, a team comprised of a licensed
social worker and registered nurse, work closely with the
1
Jessica Doherty, RN Clinic
Coordinator