About the Nurse-Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership Program is a highly acclaimed, well tested model that helps foster healthier pregnancies, improves the health and development of children and encourages self-sufficiency of families. The program improves the social functioning of low-income first-time mothers and their babies and is designed to help families develop strengths and skills that will be the foundation for a lifetime of health and economic stability. The skills and resources mothers develop in coping with their first pregnancy and child set a pattern for the parenting of any children they may later have.
One of the most important roles that nurse home visitors play is helping families identify their needs and helping them gain access to the community resources that can meet those needs. Nurse home visitors help enhance informal support for families by linking them with needed health and human services.
Who is eligible for the Nurse-Family Partnership?
The Nurse-Family Partnership is for first time moms, including women who have had miscarriages or abortions. The goal of the program is to enroll 60% of the moms by their 16th week of gestation, and no later than 28 weeks.
When do the home visits start?
The ideal point to start home visits is sometime between the 14th and 24th week of pregnancy—only by beginning services during pregnancy can health-related behaviors be positively influenced.
Starting in pregnancy, specially trained nurses conduct home visits with first time mothers to address health behaviors related to substance abuse (smoking, drugs, alcohol) and nutrition, significant risk factors for pre-term delivery, low birth weight, and infant development.
After delivery, the emphasis is on enhancing the important roles of family in the care of infants and toddlers, which helps prevent child maltreatment (a condition that the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect has called a national emergency) and injuries (the leading cause of childhood mortality among children aged one to fourteen).
How often will visits be scheduled?
While the timing and frequency of visits will depend on the home visitor's judgment and the family's own situation, nurse home visitors generally follow the following visitation schedule:
- Nurse visits once a week during the first month following enrollment.
- Nurse visits twice a month for the remainder of the pregnancy.
- Nurse visits once a week during the first six weeks after delivery.
- Nurse visits twice a month from seven weeks through the 21st month of childhood.
- Monthly visits until the child reaches age two.
Benefits of the Nurse-Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership is an investment in positive family outcomes that results in improved prenatal health, fewer childhood injuries, and increased intervals between births.
- The program reduces welfare dependence by supporting maternal employment.
- Results in lower rates of premature birth and low birth weight.
- High rates for immunization and language development among toddlers.
- The program focuses on improving school readiness and preventing school drop out.
- Unintended subsequent pregnancies are prevented as part of this program.
- Reduced child abuse and neglect.
For more information on the Nurse-Family Partnership Program contact:
Lackawana, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties
Robbie McHale, PhD, RN
Program Supervisor,
email: Robbie McHale
Luzerne County
Kathleen Krivenko, RN
Program supervisor
email: Kaththleen Krivenko
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