06/15/2026
This past Saturday, June 13th, the annual Baby Bump and Beyond Expo took over the Mercer County Extension office, and the impact was absolutely massive! Funded and celebrated by Family Connects NJ (FCNJ), this special event was all about uplifting, educating, and supporting Mercer County families.
We were thrilled to have 110 families register and over 125 families join us in person! 🙌
Through the power of community collaboration, we provided vital resources, hands-on safety training, health screenings, and family fun:
A huge thank you to the Ewing Police Department and Capital Health team for conducting crucial car seat inspections and installations, and distributing 114 car seats!
A massive thank you to Penn Medicine for providing a free, hands-on CPR and First Aid Class for Newborns and Infants! Families walked away with vital knowledge on the "dos and don'ts" of emergency care to keep their little ones safe.
Our dedicated Mercer County FCNJ Nurses provided critical blood pressure screenings, educated families on preeclampsia prevention, and scheduled expecting parents for their supportive in-home postpartum nurse visits after hospital discharge. FCNJ also donated blood pressure monitors to birthing parents so they can monitor their levels at home, with hands-on instruction from our nurses on how to read the results and prevent high blood pressure during and after pregnancy. Capital Health’s Felicia Patten also empowered families with an insightful breastfeeding class! FCNJ also hosted a diaper distribution and provided essential lactation kits (including breast pumps) to lactating parents.
A major shoutout to the WIC Office! Thanks to their incredible team efforts and active outreach advertising this event to their clients, we reached a record attendance. They also remained open throughout the event to respond to questions, share information, and schedule appointments.
Thank you to Henry J. Austin Health Center for being on-site to help families not currently connected to health providers. They also provided brilliant education on their resourceful 2-year Centering Program in their pediatrics department.
Parents received invaluable guidance from Body and Soul and CUNA Maternal Health Programs, Healthy Women Healthy Families Postpartum Doula, AMAR and NEST doulas from The Children's Home Society of NJ, Unity Bloom, and Brick City Doula LC (who taught the beautiful art of native baby wrapping!).
Hey Black Dad provided amazing consultations for fathers and soon-to-be siblings on what to expect when the baby arrives, while Children’s Futures shared crucial education on child-rearing, pregnancy, and postpartum case management support.
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC) Early Childhood Program guided families through Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and Mercer County developmental resources.
The Latin American Legal Defense Education Fund educated families on legal matters, ESL, healthcare access and other resources.
Child Care Connections was on-site orienting parents on the exact steps to take to successfully enroll their children in childcare
Head Start/Early Head Start highlighted early childhood enrollment benefits.
Prevent Child Abuse NJ shared tools to build brighter futures.
The Green Healthy Homes Initiative provided vital education on lead risk rights and safety steps regarding lead exposure.
Stew’s Balloons kept the kids smiling with the most fun balloon hats and flowers, while DJ KSwift Booth kept the music pumping and the energy high all day!
Finally, a delicious shoutout to Mama Flora Trattoria for treating all of our staff and vendors to an incredible lunch that kept everyone energized and ready to serve!
Behind the Scenes Superstars: This event wouldn't have been possible without the amazing staff from CJFHC and CHS, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes—transporting giveaways, organizing logistics, completing forms, and providing vital translation and interpretation so every single family could fully understand all the educational resources available.
Finally, a massive thank you to the Mercer County Extension for their incredible support in reserving their beautiful, spacious, and accommodating facilities for our community!
Together, we are building a stronger, healthier Mercer County! 💙
# Health
