HEALTH DISTRICT ANNOUNCES NEW FAMILY NURSE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

 
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District will now be better armed with improving pregnancy outcomes and changing lives for first-time mothers in Nueces County.
 
The Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) is a nurse led, evidence-based home visitation program.  The program targets low-income young women by helping them engage in good preventative health practices, including obtaining thorough prenatal care from their health care providers, improving their diet, and reducing use of cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal substances.
 
Clients are followed up through case management by a Registered Nurse from as early as their first trimester until the baby is 2 years old.
 
In addition, NFP goals include improving child health development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care for their children.
 
NFP also works toward improving the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education, and finding employment.
 
Annette Rodriguez, M.P.H., Public Health District Director states, “A nurse brings specialized healthcare knowledge and can spend time with her client, thereby empowering them to make a major difference for the whole family.”
 
Family outcomes that have been shown in one or more of the Nurse-Family Partnership randomized, controlled trials include:

• a reduction in child abuse and neglect
• reduction in emergency room visits for accidents and poisonings
• reduction in arrest of children at age 15
• reduction behavioral and intellectual problems in children at age six
• fewer conviction of mothers when children are at age 15

The program is open to any woman who is pregnant with her first child, meets income requirements, and lives within Nueces County.