NURSE - FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

Client Stories

“I was orphaned at age 15 after losing my mother to cancer and my father to prison.I became pregnant at 17 after dropping out of school. Enrolling in the Nurse-Family Partnership early in my pregnancy allowed me to have a healthy pregnancy, learn the skills necessary to care for my child and get back into school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. I can’t imagine where I’d be today without the support of the Nurse-Family Partnership!”

-Stella, Nurse-Family Partnership Client

Rhonda's Story

Rhonda is a 19-year-old Hispanic female who began the NFP at 15 weeks gestation at which time she was living at the safe house because her mother was incarcerated. Rhonda was raised primarily by her mother who has been in and out of treatment for drug and alchol problems for over 15 years. The father of Rhonda's child is a 16 year-old Hispanic male who, at the time she found out of her pregnancy, was also serving a 6-month sentence in a juvenile facility.

Throughout her pregnancy Rhonda kept all of her prenatal and WIC appointments despite the fact that she did not have transportation. The nurse home visitor made numerous referrals and since that time Rhonda has found an apartment in a homeward bound program which assists young families in stabilizing to the point that they can find living arrangements independent of the program. Rhonda was also able to locate resources to have her car repaired so that she would have safe and reliable transportation.

Rhonda delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 7lbs 8 ounces in January 2003 and she continues to breastfeed! Currently, Rhonda is enrolled in the TANF program and she and her child receive monetary assistance, food stamps and Medicaid. Rhonda begins classes this summer at the local community college and hopes to obtain a degree in psychology. She is also working part-time as an assistant to the Family Advocate Program in this county. This program was Rhonda's link to local resources. It offered her the encouragement to put her life together after being homeless along with facing an unintended pregnancy.

Suzy's Story

Suzy is a 21-year old Caucasian woman who was a substance abuser and as a consequence had lost the relationship with the father of her child. Pregnant and lost, she was enrolled in the NFP early in her pregnancy. She is a severe asthmatic who lives in a small home with her smoking mother. With Suzy's nurse home visitor working closely with her and connecting her mother with a strong smoking cessation program, Suzy delivered a full term baby boy. She is now enrolled in the local Community College pursuing a degree in Nursing! She chose nursing after having some initial interest but her commitment to the field was solidified by her experience with this program and her wonderful bond with her nurse home visitor. Today, Suzy is drug-free, her asthma is well under control and her mother is down to smoking just a few cigarettes a day and never in their house. Her baby is four months old--breastfeeding, thriving, and developmentally ahead of other babies his age.