For Families

“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

At just six years old, Serenity is a high-energy, incredibly verbal girl with a curious mind. Her intelligence and enthusiasm shine through in everything she does. “She is always asking questions and loves to be in charge,” said Alisha, Serenity’s mom. However, Serenity was struggling with listening, cooperating, and interacting, which challenged her relationship with

Whenever Kasper, a former NFP parent, hears that a friend is expecting, they immediately recommend Nurse-Family Partnership. “I always tell them, ‘By knowing about NFP, I’m giving you the best gift you could have!’” Kasper shared with enthusiasm. Kasper, along with their husband, Cameron, and their toddler, Eneko, recently graduated from the Sonoma County Nurse-Family

When Markela Batts was attending graduate school to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she knew she wanted a career in helping children develop, grow and heal. It was during an internship at Amos College where her mentor pointed out that Markela had an innate ability to help people through play. “I became interested in

Twenty-five years ago, Barb Werner, MSN, RN, noticed a new job posting that she was interested in. “It was back at the time when you read the newspaper to find job advertisements,” Barb recalled. “The newspaper listing was for a part-time supervisor to implement a new home visiting program,” she said. That posting led Barb

What’s it like being a new parent in 2023? In a post-COVID world, parenting in the U.S. has become more “digital” as influenced by improvements in technology – including remote working options, telehealth doctor visits, remote learning possibilities and finding support in online social communities.  Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) nurses and Child First clinicians learned first-hand

While most Nurse-Family Partnership nurses identify as female, local network partner organizations do employ a handful of male nurses to deliver preventative health services, trusted information and helpful resources to first-time moms – and dads – to build the lives they want for themselves and their children. Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) nurse, Adam, in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Fernanda tenía 20 años en diciembre de 2020 cuando supo que estaba embarazada. Hacía tres meses que salía con Christopher, su pareja. “Mi vida viviendo con mi mamá y mi hermano menor era un desastre. Estaba asustada y no sabía cuáles eran los pasos a seguir”. Lo primero que decidió Fernanda fue volver a estudiar para

Fernanda was 20 years old when she discovered she was pregnant in December 2020. She had been dating her partner, Christopher, for only three months. “My life at home with my mom and younger brother was disastrous. I felt scared and didn’t know what the next steps should be.” The first thing Fernanda decided was

In the summer of 2020, Hannah’s friends jokingly asked her if she was pregnant because she was eating more than usual. “I took a pregnancy test and to my surprise, I was pregnant!” Hannah remembered. She was 20 years old, working part time in retail and living with her dad in a rural part of

When asked about how she met her fiancé, Utah resident Sunn replied, “It was as if the universe was bringing us together.” Sunn is a musician and Faapepele had been a long-time follower of her music. She was 21 and had just recently got out of a tumultuous relationship when Faapepele sent her a message

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and is often linked to underlying mental health conditions. In 2018-2019, 4.7% of adults in Louisiana reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.* “Mental health should be taken so much more seriously,” said Louisiana resident, Mia. “You just don’t know what other

Stefi, residente de Carolina del Norte, sospechaba qué podrían decirle cuando, en agosto de 2019, fue al Departamento de Salud local para hacerse una prueba de embarazo. Le confirmaron sus sospechas: estaba embarazada. Stefi tenía 18 años y no solo acababa de graduarse, sino que también se había casado con su novio de la escuela secundaria.

North Carolina resident, Stefi, had a suspicion of what to expect when she visited her local health department for a pregnancy test in August 2019. And her feeling was right – she was pregnant. Stefi was 18 and not only had she just graduated, but she was also a newlywed to her high school sweetheart.

When new mom, Ansley, was recently asked to be featured on NBC’s Today Show to highlight her experience in the Nurse-Family Partnership® program, she thought, “This is wild!” Ansley’s nurse, Debbie, from Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Nurse-Family Partnership helped coordinate the interview with the Today Show to bring awareness to the Maternal, Infant, and Early

Oklahoma families are celebrating October 2022 as it marks the 25th anniversary of Nurse-Family Partnership® in the state. Oklahoma’s Nurse-Family Partnership – also known as Children First – was implemented in 1997. Children First is delivered across much of the state through the health department system and is administered by the Oklahoma State Department of

In June, the National Service Office (NSO) for Nurse-Family Partnership® and Child First hosted our largest Policy and Advocacy Summit in Washington D.C. to advocate for the timely reauthorization of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. Funding for the program is expiring and Congress must act before September 20, 2022 to

Jonel and her husband, Sawyer, learned they were expecting their first baby in June 2021 while living abroad in Vietnam. “At this time, the COVID-19 pandemic put Vietnam in full lockdown and we weren’t allowed to leave our apartment,” Jonel remembers. “I experienced previous miscarriages and knew I needed regular prenatal care including progesterone to

To listen to boisterous Zy’Aire, you’d never guess he started his life as a delicate low-birthweight baby. Now 2 years old, he’s full of energy, chattering endlessly and pretending to read books to Taquana, his mom. “He’s something special,” she said. “He always brightens up the room wherever he is.” Taquana, who sought help from

“When Megan first told me she was pregnant, I was unsure of what to do next,” recalled new dad Jacob. “I felt relieved when we decided to reach out to Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) to get some help. I was even more reassured when we learned that NFP is a free program,” he said. Jacob

In May of 2019, N’Kenge left work early because she wasn’t feeling well. She made it to the Plano, Texas train station, but before she could get home, she discovered she was having contractions. At 24 weeks pregnant, N’Kenge was in labor and was quickly transported to Medical City Plano Hospital. “A team of doctors

When Camille was young, she helped her family take care of her ill grandmother. “My grandma told me I was the best little nurse she ever had,” Camille remembers. That meant a lot to her since her grandmother was a registered nurse herself. “I knew I was making a difference and I wanted to be

Jennifer has a lot to celebrate each April – most notably, 2022 marks five full years of sobriety for her. “As a recovering heroin addict, getting my five-year chip is a big accomplishment!” Jennifer exclaimed. Another April milestone she is celebrating is her daughter’s fourth birthday. “She is my wildflower, she is my reason for

When Mary Lambert explains the techniques employed in the Child First program, she talks about the “double scoop.” It’s a way to break an impasse in communications by talking for the child and for the caregiver about what they are feeling.  To a small child, for example, her mother may appear angry when she’s actually

When Tahitia learned about Child First, she admits she was skeptical. Branden had just been returned to her from foster care. He was behaving aggressively, crying, unable to sleep. “I was assuming he was scared that he was just going to be here for a visit and then be taken away again,” said Tahitia, who

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Nurse-Family Partnership Work Together to Serve Families The charge for Sheena Kanott Lambert, public health director for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, was to assess the maternal health needs of the tribal community and develop a plan to address them. It was 2011 and, in

Empowerment through home visitation March 19, 2021 by Asia Collins-Muhammad, NFP Parent Ambassador and mother of five I was 22 years old, working full time, trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life as a professional, when I found out I was pregnant. I learned about Nurse-Family Partnership ®

Little Maryn was 2 months old when her dad left for a 10-month deployment to Bahrain where being a father was reduced to often awkward conversations via video chat. “I was really excited about having a child, but really nervous,” said Jamal. “I didn’t want to leave my wife alone in El Paso where we

SUPPORTING BLACK MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) nurse TeQuiera will tell anyone within earshot that she has the best job in the world. She supports women and children in her community daily. “What’s not to love?” she says. But TeQuiera didn’t always have a nursing career in mind. She discovered her calling in a

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC It was quite the New Year’s surprise when 20-year-old Cora discovered she was pregnant. While excited about a new baby, worry came in equal measure. The mom-to-be was young, unemployed and uncertain of her future, which is why she visited the Houston County Health Department in Georgia to create

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC When Shaquilla went into labor on April 5, 2020, it triggered a frenzy of intense activity. She was the first expectant mom with COVID-19 to arrive at McLeod Health Clarendon in South Carolina. Everyone was on high alert. “The doctors and nurses were there for me. They prayed for

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Meagan was the new girl. She moved to Macon, Ga., to live with her father halfway through her junior year in 2019. She had to learn a new routine, make friends and navigate a new school’s unwritten social rules. The adjustment was made more difficult when she became pregnant,

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC For as long as Amanda could remember, Texas was home. She spent most of her life in and around Houston — among oil derricks and 10-gallon cowboy hats, eventually moving to Longview in her mid-20s. Texas was where she grew up, went to school and met her fiancé. It’s

Mom, wife, homeowner, project manager. Looking at the educated, accomplished, confident woman Ashunti is today makes it a little difficult to imagine her as a 19-year-old girl grappling with a surprise pregnancy. Ashunti took the pregnancy test in the Wal-Mart bathroom and stared at the faint line. “I wasn’t sure what I was seeing, so

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC For the last two years, 23-year-old Rea has put her life back together. Today, she is the devoted mother of 16-month-old Mateo, a committed partner to Marcos and a driven nursing student. Rea and Marcos started dating when they were in 7th grade. By the time they reached 21,

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC When Alicia learned about Nurse-Family Partnership® she thought it would be good to have some extra support during her first pregnancy. What she found was new confidence in herself and her ability as a mother and some extra support during the COVID pandemic. At 25, Alicia, who lives in

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A little girl named Skyler-Ivy lives in Tucson, Arizona, and she’s the reason her mom, Kristin, does everything. Maybe most importantly, she’s the reason Kristin stopped using heroin — and has kept that commitment for over a year.  A Reason for Change Last year, Kristin found out she was

Nurse Joy offers much more than health care, education and guidance to the moms at Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) at the Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas. She’s a role model with hard experience in many of the challenges and anxieties first-time, low-income moms face. She was selected to be filmed for Roadtrip Nation’s “A

Nurse Beth was worried. She had been working with Shantriva for several months, and after a healthy pregnancy and the birth of her son, the young mother was not looking well. Beth, a nurse with Nurse-Family Partnership® at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, thought it was more than the fatigue that often accompanies

THE ANTIDOTE – Nurse Maria’s Story Nurse-Family Partnership nurse Maria Cody is featured in a short documentary film that amplifies the power of kindness and love. In the short film, THE ANTIDOTE – Nurse-Family Partnership, nurse Maria shows us to change a community, a family and a child’s future, you have to start with the

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Say what you will about New Yorkers, they understand COVID-19. Nobody dares try to convince them it’s a hoax. Memories from March and April, when the outbreak across the city was raging and refrigerated trucks were parked outside hospitals to serve as overflow morgues, are never far from their

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Nurse Sandra wishes she could be more helpful. The Nurse-Family Partnership® nurse who works through the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey in Ocean County, N.J., has worked by phone with new moms, some coping with COVID-19 along with the often-overwhelming demands of caring for an infant. She advises

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Anisia loves watching 18-month-old Israel try new things. “He’s a happy baby. He’s very active and always trying to climb everything,” said Anisia. “I like seeing him grow up. He looks and acts different every day.” At 19, Anisia juggles school, a full-time job and motherhood. It’s not a

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC The hardest part for Susy is missing her Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) moms and their babies. The NFP nurse in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state has been deployed by the Benton-Franklin Health District to help with the campaign to control the COVID-19 outbreak. Since March, she and other NFP

Terri was 22 weeks pregnant when she found out that something was wrong. A routine ultrasound had revealed her baby had a heart defect. She was devastated as she nervously waited for more information. Tests revealed the baby had a chromosome 8 deletion, a rare genetic condition that can result in growth deficiencies, skull and

Tan’ia was clearly skeptical. A sophomore in high school and 17 weeks pregnant, her high school counselor had recommended that she seek the support of a Nurse-Family Partnership® nurse through Healthier Moms and Babies in Fort Wayne, Ind. But she wasn’t convinced that was a good idea. Her mom insisted, though, so Tan’ia went along

Marvin no sabía nada sobre bebés antes de que su hijo Matthew naciera el pasado noviembre. “No tenia experiencia en lo absoluto y soy muy joven,” dijo el muchacho que cumplió 18 años el día anterior a celebrar su primer día del padre. “Ahora estoy feliz de ser papá. No hay nadie a quien ame

Marvin knew nothing about babies before his son Matthew was born last November. “I didn’t have any experience at all and I’m really young,” said the guy who turns 18 on the day before he will celebrate his first Father’s Day. “Now I’m just happy to be a dad. There’s no one I love more

Aaliyah está aprendiendo cosas nuevas todos los días. Gatea, se levanta sola y se pasea alrededor de los muebles, metiendo las manos en todos lados. Es una niña de 15 meses sana, feliz y curiosa, además de ser una fuente de alegría infinita para su joven madre. Algún día ella escuchará la historia de su

Aaliyah is learning new things every day. She’s crawling, pulling herself up and cruising around the furniture, little hands into everything. She’s a healthy, happy, inquisitive 15-month-old and a source of endless joy to her young mom. Someday she’ll hear the story of her dramatic arrival into the world. Someday she’ll know the story behind

APOYO CONSTANTE DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 Cuando Diana quedó embarazada el otoño pasado, no había coronavirus en Pennsylvania. Nadie hablaba de cuarentenas o aislamiento social. Diana, quien vive en Lancaster, estaba emocionada y un poco aprensiva porque había tenido un embarazo anterior que había terminado en un aborto espontáneo. Marlisa, su enfermera de Nurse-Family

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC When Diana got pregnant last fall, there was no coronavirus in Pennsylvania. Nobody was talking about quarantines or social isolation. Diana, who lives in Lancaster, was thrilled and a bit apprehensive because a previous pregnancy had ended in a miscarriage. Marlisa, her nurse from Nurse-Family Partnership® at Penn Medicine/Lancaster

When RosAnne, a nurse with Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP), started meeting with Jessica at her home in Houston, TX, she noticed that the young first-time mom was very sweet and self-effacing. It was a big part of Jessica’s personality to always put others first. “I was very shy,” Jessica admitted, “and I was very insecure about

TENACIOUS SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC The moms have so many questions. What will happen if my baby doesn’t get her immunizations on time? What should I do about this rash? Where will we go if we get evicted from our apartment? How can we buy food now that I’ve lost my job? And the

Temea is so serious about school, her job and her rambunctious 1-year-old son, Jayce, that she frequently can catch people off-guard with her wicked sense of humor. Her Nurse-Family Partnership® nurse Kristi has enjoyed getting to know the clever side of Temea as the two have built a trusting friendship through the challenges of being

Desde el principio, Yodelis tenía altas expectativas para Nathan y para ella misma. Tenía 16 años cuando quedó embarazada y admite que estaba avergonzada y confundida. “No estaba segura de lo que iba a hacer y si seguir adelante con ello,” dijo Yodelis. “Es una decisión muy importante que debes tomar rápidamente.” Ella vivía con

From the very beginning, Yodelis had high expectations for Nathan – and herself. She was 16 when she got pregnant and she admits she was embarrassed and confused. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and whether to go through with it,” Yodelis said. “It’s a big decision that you have to make

By almost any measure, 19-year-old La’Quana is remarkable. She was barely 16 when her son, Marques, was born and since her pregnancy went undiagnosed for months, she had little time to get used to the idea of motherhood. She was using birth control and, always slender and petite, had gained little weight. So, she was