Shawnee County Nurse-Family Partnership
Overview
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) focuses on low-income, first-time mothers, a population segment that sometimes has limited access to good parenting information or role models. Women voluntarily enroll as early as possible with nurse home visits, ideally beginning by the 16th week of pregnancy.
The transition to motherhood can be particularly challenging for many low-income, first-time mothers. Many are socially isolated or are experiencing severe adversity and nurse home visits can prove extremely helpful.
Goals of the Program
- Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices, including thorough prenatal care from their healthcare providers, improving their diets, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances;
- Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care; and
- Improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education and find work.
The Newborn Home Visits program, in which registered nurses visit, provide educational materials, and provide health assessments to both the mother and child within a month of release from the hospital. Registered nurses provide health assessments to both mother and baby after leaving the hospital or birthing center to ensure the healthiest start possible. Families receive physical, social, and nutritional assessments for mother and baby. Education is provided on a variety of topics, including growth, development, and newborn care. Referrals are made to community resources if needed.
Women of newly delivered babies living in Shawnee County may receive a home visit. Families may be referred through other community resources or individuals may call to receive a visit.
For Families
What to Expect
Nurse Family Partnership will offer regular visits throughout your pregnancy, and until your baby turns two years of age. Your personal nurse will provide support & education on topics about your pregnancy and your child that you are interested in. Your nurse can also help connect you to community resources if you should need it. Together, you and your nurse will work on your personal goals to help you and your baby be as successful and healthy as possible. Any pregnant woman with their first baby may enroll during the first or second trimester of their pregnancy. Women may be referred through other community programs or may call to begin receiving services.
How to Get Started
Families can contact Ariona Atkinson at (785) 251-5659.
For Partners
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based, community health program that serves low-income women pregnant with their first child. Each vulnerable new mom is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits. It is a life-transforming partnership for the mom and her child. NFP helps families - and the communities they live in - become stronger while saving money for state, local and federal governments.
Program Results
Over 35 years of research from randomized, controlled trials prove it works - delivering multi-generational outcomes that benefit communities and reduce the cost of long-term social service programs. The following represent only a few of the outcomes that have been observed among participants in at least one of the trials of the program:
Improved Pregnancy Outcomes:
79% reduction in preterm delivery for women who smoke, and a reduction of high-risk pregnancies as a result of greater intervals between first and subsequent births.
35% fewer hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Improved Child Health and Development:
67% reduction in behavioral and intellectual problems of children at age 6
59% reduction in arrests of children at age 15
56% reduction in emergency room visits for accidents and poisonings
50% reduction in language delays in a child at age 21 months
48% reduction in child abuse and neglect
39% fewer injuries among children
Increased Economic Self-Sufficiency:
83% increase in the number of mothers returning to work by the child's 4th birthday
72% fewer convictions of the mother
60% fewer arrests of the mother
46% increase in father's presence in the household
32% fewer subsequent pregnancies
20% reduction in months on welfare
Eligiblity
- Women pregnant with their first baby must be enrolled by 28 weeks of gestation.
- Low-income
- Shawnee County resident
