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Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
In December 2005, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene awarded Visiting Nurse Service of New York’s Children & Family Services (CFS) program the contract for the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) in the South Bronx. NFP is a national model of support for new low-income, first-time mothers from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. Research has shown that this program results in improved long-term and short-term outcomes for the mothers and their children. CFS is excited to be partnering with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on this national initiative to support first-time mothers.
The National Center for Children, Families and Communities (NCCFC) is an interdisciplinary Center based at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The Center is devoted to research, development, and replication of effective programs that improve the lives of children and families in the context of the communities where they live like the Nurse-Family Partnership (www.nursefamilypartnership.org). The Center helps communities replicate and sustain an evidence-based program of home visiting by registered nurses in order to improve the health and well being of low-income, first-time parents and their children. NFP sites are supported by a team of public health policy and administration, nursing, education and program evaluation professionals at its national office who collaborate with its partners in 20 states.
An NFP has meant proven outcomes all over the country where the program has been initiated:
- 79% reduction in child abuse and neglect
- 83% increase in labor force participation
- 56% reduction in emergency room visits
- 30 month reduction in welfare use
- 32% reduction in subsequent pregnancy
- 44% reduction in maternal behavioral problems due to substance abuse
- 69% fewer arrests among low-income, unmarried mothers
- 56% fewer arrests among N-FP children of low-income, unmarried mothers
- 81% fewer convictions among N-FP children of low-income, unmarried mothers
The Bronx NFP to be managed by CFS will see 400 low-income, first-time mothers weekly, bi-weekly or monthly in their South Bronx residence. Eight VNSNY nurses (a 1:25 ratio) will be trained under national NFP guidelines and make home visits under the supervision of a full-time nurse manager. Typically, a nurse will first see the mother during the second trimester and continue to visit mother and child for up to two years after birth. In addition to the nurses, three escort/translators and clerical personnel will be employed.
While New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide a major portion of the funding for the Bronx NFP in the three-year program, VNSNY will make a significant financial contribution of approximately $400,000 in both the second and third years. CFS will incur many other expenses associated with operating a program of this kind not specifically reimbursed through the NFP contract, including providing CFS social workers, support service supervision and other providers to support NFP activities.
We estimate this funding gap to be in excess of $1,000,000 over the three-year program meaning VNSNY must turn to philanthropy to make up shortfall to ensure coverage for all 200 mothers and their babies. (It will take about $6,000 for one nurse to service one mother for one year.)
We expect the NFP staff to become an integral part of the VNSNY-CFS Bronx community of maternity, newborn and child health specialists, and to benefit from all of the learning and resources that CFS has to offer.
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