About
Maternal and Child Health is a priority in Winnebago County. In 2025, the Winnebago County Health Department received funding from the Birth Equity Seeds Grant awarded by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to implement a Universal Home Visiting Program in Winnebago County.
UNIVERSAL HOME VISITING PROGRAM
Bringing a Universal Home Visiting Program to the community provides the opportunity for more effective coordination of Maternal and Child Health Services through the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD).
WCHD hosts multiple programs that work to improve maternal and child health in the community that are seamlessly accessed through a universal model, including WIC (Woman’s, Infant, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program), igrow (home visiting and doula services), Family Connects International, healthy homes, family planning, respectful care advocacy, and pregnancy case management.
By bringing a Universal Home Visiting Program to Winnebago County, our community is expanding on the home visiting services provided through the igrow program.
igrow makes it easier for families to connect to home visiting and other services at multiple agencies. You can view the agencies here.
igrow enrolls families into programs based on eligibility and personalized needs. Services provided through igrow include doula care, child development care, and pregnancy care coordination.
In collaboration with Alignment Rockford, Family Connects International was chosen as the Universal Newborn Support System model for Winnebago County.
Together, We are Giving Every Child In Winnebago County A Winning Start.
A COMMUNTIY-WIDE INTIATIVE
The igrow partners, Alignment Rockford, the health system in Winnebago County, and the Winnebago County Health Department collaborated to support bringing a Universal Home Visiting Program to the community and launched the community-wide initiative – Winning Start Winnebago – in May of 2025.
Winning Start Winnebago provides continued care before, during, & after pregnancy. This community-wide initiative is working to save lives and promote long-term health for babies and their families by identifying health risks early, facilitating access to care, and providing education and support.
Every baby deserves a winning start, and every family deserves support along the way. Winning Start Winnebago is for all families who are planning a pregnancy, are currently pregnant, or have a newborn. Families with children aged 5 and under can keep growing with Winning Start Winnebago and are connected to resources for continued child development.
Winning Start Winnebago helps to build a healthier, safer, stronger community where families feel supported from day one. By removing barriers to care, families are connected to the local resources that are here to give them a winning start and better health outcomes.
COORDINATION THROUGH THE WINNEBAGO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Our community is working together to coordinate care for families to improve maternal and child health outcomes. WCHD is the lead agency coordinating Winning Start Winnebago services and connecting families to resources through strong partnerships with local healthcare systems, programs, and organizations. WCHD coordinates intake maternal and child health services at the local health department and at partner organizations throughout the community.
MORE ABOUT IGROW
igrow Rockford is an evidence-based, early childhood home visiting program that provides a wide range of services to prenatal, pregnant women, and parenting families of children up to age two. Families are connected to home visiting services that assist with kindergarten readiness, while developing strong healthy families and relationships.
WCHD has been providing intake and coordinated care for home visiting through the igrow program to ensure continued growing for families to improve school readiness. WCHD continues to connect families to igrow services as part of Winning Start Winnebago.
MORE ABOUT FAMILY CONNECTS INTERNATIONAL
Family Connects International is the model chosen to provide Universal Newborn Support System in Winnebago County. All families with a newborn receive continued care from a public health nurse from WCHD within the first few weeks of the baby’s birth. Families get connected to local resources and keep growing with Winning Start Winnebago.
Universal Newborn Support System (UNSS) have been shown to strengthen families and communities through improving communications and coordination between local service. UNSS does not duplicate or cancel out any existing services that families benefit from and choose to participate in, including home visiting, doula, community health worker, primary health care and Early Intervention services.
The Family Connect International model includes a Community Advisory Board. Alignment Rockford is coordinating the Community Advisory Board in Winnebago County.