Alonna Sivels was the first NFP client to deliver, and is pictured with her son, KJ, in the hospital after his birth
Erlanger announces the Nurse-Family Partnership program has reached over 100 clients since launching in January 2021.
Since commencement, the program has had 69 babies born including two sets of twins, four high school moms graduated from school and 98 percent of clients have stable and safe housing. In 2022 alone, the home visit nurses have provided over 1,400 hours of education to their clients. The first client’s baby recently celebrated his first birthday as well as the first set of twins recently turned one-year-old.
"Through the NFP program, we have been able to support these first time moms through one of the most difficult times in life,” said Betsy Morton, Erlanger NFP program coordinator.
“Not only have we provided prenatal support, but also parenting skills and postpartum support which is a time when new moms can be the most vulnerable. We've been able to create lifelong relationships with our clients and have enjoyed watching them grow."
The NFP program has also achieved positive results in other important milestone for the participants. At the end of fiscal year 2022, NFP reported every participant received parenting education and had access to prenatal care as well as regular in-home care from the 28th week of pregnancy, which will continue through the child’s second birthday. Additionally, 100 percent of participants’ children follow up on pediatric visits and are on schedule for childhood immunizations. The program reports that 90 percent of participants did not have pre-term births and 96 percent of participants’ children did not have low birth weights, both indicators are important in overall newborn health.
Funded through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based, community health program that serves women and teens who meet specific income requirements and who are expecting their first children. Each mother is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives regular home visits until the child reaches two years of age. During these visits, an NFP nurse can help an expectant mother learn more about personal and environmental health both during pregnancy and after delivery, infant and toddler health and development and parenting skills.
The Nurse-Family Partnership is funded by a 2Gen grant contract with the state of Tennessee. TDHS launched the 2Gen grant program in 2014 as part of its nationally recognized “two generation” approach to addressing the needs of both parents and children simultaneously. Since then, TDHS has awarded grants to fund programs of more than 60 organizations and educational entities across the state.
For more information about the Nurse-Family Partnership program or to join, visit erlanger.org/NFP.
Alonna Sivels this summer at the NFP program picnic with her son, KJ