Hoping to provide critical support to mothers and their newborn children, state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, passed legislation recently that would identify and create a support system to provide short-term universal newborn home visiting services.
House Bill 4606 requires the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to identify, develop
and manage administrative infrastructure needed to support existing and future short-term
universal newborn home visiting services.
By Jan. 1, 2028, IDHS may do the following: Create a list of voluntary universal newborn home visiting models,
Coordinate with relevant state agencies to support the implementation of state-administered funding for local programs that support universal newborn home visiting and collaborate with key stakeholders to design infrastructure to support universal newborn home visiting services.
“Becoming a mother is one of the most difficult and rewarding things that I have ever done,” said Faver Dias. “I want to make sure that every woman going through the same process has a support system that lets them know that they aren’t alone. That’s what this legislation is all about, creating the foundation for new mothers to feel supported and seen.”
The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
