“Thanks to Changent, our organization is learning how to implement two evidence-based programs with support and guidance that make it possible for our team to focus on the families we serve, with the support of a partner organization, making implementation efficient and high-quality.”
~ Robert Chavez, CEO of New Mexico-based Youth Development, Inc. (YDI)
YDI is one of 259 Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) implementation partners and 31 Child First affiliates nationwide that benefit from the wide range of support offered by Changent, formerly called The National Service Office, to bring two evidence-based home visiting programs nationwide: Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and Child First.
Chavez goes on to say, “This partnership means we can deliver the services and support that are most needed to help families and children better their lives, and we can rely on our partners at Changent to support our success in every way.”
Both NFP and Child First are dual-generation models that offer comprehensive care and support where they are needed most. NFP positively impacts and transforms the lives of first-time parents and their babies by connecting them with specially educated and equipped home visiting registered nurses. Child First is a home visiting intervention model that utilizes a two-person clinical care team to provide mental health services to promote healthy relationships between caregivers and their children so they can heal from the effects of chronic stress and trauma.
“What’s exciting about this new venture with Changent is the privilege and opportunity to really partner deeply and work with local families, with the support of a proven curriculum and a national network of providers we can tap into,” says Diana Lopez, VP of YDI’s Prevention, Intervention, and Behavioral Health. “It’s so important to address the whole family and be able to help them chart their course toward change. The entire family unit is its own change agent. That’s what’s exciting about this work. I’m so hopeful and confident that our work with Changent will help us impact not only the families we’re working with locally, but the community at large.”
When looking at New Mexico, there is a critical need for early intervention and prevention services to improve well-being. The programs being implemented, with the support of Changent, are going to have a positive community impact because they are whole family models as well as home visiting models. YDI, in partnership with NFP and Child First under Changent, has already seen the positive impact of these models. After one year of implementation with NFP, YDI had the best proven outcomes in the state of New Mexico for a home visiting program.
“Changent has provided us with a roadmap to ensure we know where we’re going so we can provide support to truly improve outcomes for families and change the direction they are going in for better and long-lasting lives.”
-Robert Chavez, CEO of YDI
As the umbrella organization and engine for the expansion of NFP and Child First across the nation, Changent works with organizations like YDI every day. Offering program implementation support, training, fundraising, and policy/government affairs expertise, Changent helps on-the-ground organizations make immediate and lasting change for families and children, unlocking brighter futures for communities and laying the groundwork for better outcomes for generations to come.
“Together, we are creating healthier futures for families and for their children. Healthy babies will grow up to become healthy children, healthy teenagers, and healthy adults, creating healthy communities,” says Chavez. “Changent has provided us with a roadmap to ensure we know where we’re going so we can provide support to truly improve outcomes for families and change the direction they are going in for better and long-lasting lives. These programs will produce long-term results and the outcomes are going to be overwhelmingly positive and impactful for our community.”
“As a result of the work that we are doing with Changent, we will strengthen families and have strong and healthier communities—we can make incremental steps towards bettering individual health and family health in our communities,” says Lopez, agreeing with Chavez that, “healthier individuals lead to healthier families, healthier communities, and, eventually, a healthier state and a brighter future.”
As a long-standing organization in the community, YDI knows that families and children deserve the best possible support and outcomes. By partnering with Changent and its programs, YDI can bring these new best practices around behavioral health to the community to improve lives. And this is just one example of how Changent is leveraging change across our nation.
“With the support of Changent, more families and more children are being served and set up for success. We’ve been doing this work with families for over 50 years in New Mexico to ensure we’re meeting community, family, and children’s needs, and now we have proven programs like Child First and NFP. We are moving forward, expanding our services, and we are changing,” Chavez concluded. “This curriculum and these proven models are delivering results, and this work is generating excitement in the state and creating hope for even more families.”