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When Jeanene Evans pays visits to the families she cares for as a registered nurse home visitor with Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), she develops relationships over about a 2½-year period. The length of time she gets to spend with families highlights the uniqueness of this free, holistic and evidence-based community health program.
The home visitation program is available to low-income women in Berks and Schuylkill counties, beginning from pregnancy until their child is 2 years old.
“We become a constant and trusting presence in our clients’ lives,” Evans said. “We go through many stages of pregnancy, infancy and childhood together.”
The nurses with NFP also serve as a link to valuable resources.
“Helping families access community services, such as WIC, subsidized daycare, early intervention, Medicaid and mental health resources, can be life-changing and give them the assistance they need to become independent and successful,” she said.
Greater level of independence
Participants in the program can gain a greater level of independence.
“The most rewarding part is encouraging clients to advocate for themselves and their children in the healthcare system, their education, jobs, relationships, etc.,” Evans said.
A program of Community Prevention Partnership (CPP), which is part of Children’s Home of Reading / Youth and Family Services, NFP has been supporting families since 1999. The evidence that shows the effectiveness of the program has beneficial, long-term impacts.
“It has been shown to reduce child abuse and neglect by 48% and there are 72% fewer convictions of moms who participate in this program,” said Barb Werner, the executive director of CPP. “They followed the kids in the program for 15 years and found that at age 6, kids have 67% less behavioral and intellectual problems.“
NFP has also shown a decrease in premature births and a decreased use of tobacco and substance use, it helps moms plan for the birth of their child and prepares parents with ways to improve their child’s health and development.
Home visitation
The program, which offers healthcare and support combined into one, is helpful to pregnant women who might be dealing with health disparity and economic inequity. They might have a language barrier, no transportation, racial and ethnic disparities, or a lapse in insurance.
If you’re currently in a position where you have unstable housing, unsteady employment, you’re young, or have health risk factors, this program could serve as a very valuable resource to you. It will also give you an opportunity to create a trusting and confidential relationship with the nurse assigned to you.
“Our program is relationship-based, and they really need to be able to trust their caregiver,” Werner said. “They are reliable, consistent, and non-judgmental.“
Valuable community resources
The skills and knowledge they bring as a nurse enable them to develop a plan of care for each individual and connect them to valuable community resources.
“In addition to the health outcomes, the program empowers families to help plan their future pregnancies, education, work and career development,” Werner said.
Helping pregnant women establish a vision and plan for their own future enables them to be proactive in developing their own plans.
“We have hope for them, “Werner said. “We see strength in them that they don’t see in themselves.”
Nurse-Family Partnership empowers first-time moms to transform their lives and create better futures for themselves and their babies. Participants in the program can come through various ways including directly, through their church, a prenatal provider or the behavioral health system. For more information, visit www.nursefamilypartnership.org, email newmoms@nursefamilypartnership.org or call 844-637-6667.
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