When Jeanene Evans visits the families she cares for as a registered nurse home visitor with Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), she builds connections over a 2½-year period. The duration of time she spends with families highlights the uniqueness of this free, comprehensive, and research-supported community health program.
The home visitation program is open to low-income women in Berks and Schuylkill counties, starting from pregnancy until their child turns 2 years old.
“We become a consistent and trustworthy presence in our clients’ lives,” Evans said. “We go through many stages of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood together.”
The nurses with NFP also act as a bridge to valuable resources.
“Assisting families in accessing community services, such as WIC, subsidized daycare, early intervention, Medicaid, and mental health resources, can be life-changing and provide them the support they need to become self-sufficient and successful,” she said.
Increased level of autonomy
Participants in the program can achieve a higher 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 demonstrated a decrease in premature births and a reduced use of tobacco and substance use, it helps moms plan for the birth of their child and prepares parents with ways to enhance 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
As a nurse, they use their skills and knowledge to create a care plan for each person and link them to important community resources.
The program not only improves health outcomes, but also encourages families to plan for their future pregnancies, education, work, and career growth,
Assisting pregnant women in creating a vision and plan for their own future helps them take proactive steps in developing their plans.
“We have hope for them,” Werner said. “We see strength in them that they don’t see in themselves.”
Nurse-Family Partnership helps first-time mothers improve their lives and build better futures for themselves and their children. People can join the program in various ways, such as directly, through their church, a prenatal provider, or the behavioral health system. For more information, visit www.nursefamilypartnership.org, email [email protected], or call 844-637-6667.
