Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visiting Program

Nurse-Family Partnership® is a national evidence-based maternal and child home visiting program that provides free, voluntary, confidential services to expectant first-time mothers and then their newborns. The program pairs expectant mothers with a registered nurse, who provides intensive home visiting services to the mother and her child until the child's second birthday.

Mission

•  To improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices

•  To improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care; and

•  To improve the economic self-sufficiency of families by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education, and find work.

Who we serve

Expectant first-time mothers and their newborns. In Rhode Island, Nurse-Family Partnership currently provides services to young, low-income women in Central Falls, Cranston, Pawtucket, and Providence.

What nurse home visitors do

Provide guidance on preventive health and prenatal practices

During the early-stage home visits, nurse home visitors help their clients find appropriate prenatal care, improve their nutritional intake, reduce the use of tobacco, alcohol and/or illegal substances, and become more knowledgeable about pregnancy as well as labor and delivery.

Take a family-centered approach during home visits

Nurses offer a special kind of support by taking a family-centered approach and focusing on the mother's strengths to help her achieve goals for herself and her baby. Nurses provide first time mothers the support they need to become strong, successful parents. They also welcome expectant fathers and/or other family members to participate in home visits.

Provide support after the baby is born

Nurses provide encouragement to women as they become new parents and provide knowledge and support around child growth and development. In addition, the nurse home visitors are instrumental in serving as a “life coach” for the mothers, working with them to set personal goals to plan for the families' futures—from continuing education to finding employment.

Link families with medical homes and social services

Nurses work with mothers to engage them in services they need, including mental health and substance abuse and alcohol treatment services. If the mother and newborn do not have a medical home, nurses can help them find one. Nurses also support women and their families as they continue their education or seek employment.

What you should do

Anyone may refer a pregnant woman to Nurse-Family Partnership. Referrals are taken from:

• Healthcare and social service providers, including WIC, if they think an expectant mother would benefit from home visiting.
• Schools
• Families (self-referrals or family member referrals).

If you are interested in participating in Nurse-Family Partnership, would like to refer a young, first time mother, or have questions about the program, please call Children's Friend at 401-721-6400 and ask for the Nurse-Family Partnership program.