Nurse-Family Partnership Celebrates First Graduation

Central Vermont Nurse Family Partnership celebrated its first graduating class Friday, June 10 at the State House Cafeteria in Montpelier. One of seven women graduating from the program was Chelsea Smith, whose son, Mika, attended the graduation with his father, Michael.

Nurse-Family Partnership is a national, evidence-based program that supports first-time mothers with education and care to promote healthy pregnancies and to empower mothers to achieve better lives for themselves and their families. NFP of Central Vermont, which serves Washington and Orange Counties, is managed out of Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice by Lorna Corbett, RN, BSN, CVHHH’s Maternal-Child Health Manager. CVHHH’s is the fourth NFP site in Vermont. Each site is managed by a VNA.

“By establishing close, one-on-one relationships with expectant mothers and supporting them through the first two years of their child’s life, we are able to create an environment in which change can really happen,” says Corbett. “It’s really a therapeutic relationship based on a foundation of trust that helps build a woman’s confidence as a new mother.”

Look at Mika as a baby, at left, and, as a toddler, below, receiving new books and a back pack at the graduation.

Since February of 2014, NFP of Central Vermont has enrolled 87 clients. In this same period, nurses completed over 2,000 visits, and 64 babies were born. The program focuses on providing education on nutrition, parenting, breast feeding, health and wellness, family planning, and goal setting. Nurses also provide care coordination, connecting women and families with community resources.

Here is what moms who have participated in the program have said about the support: “NFP gives me the chance to explore a wide variety of topics with my nurse in more depth than is possible at my doctor’s office.” “My nurse tailors learning plans and curriculum to meet my daughter’s specific needs.”

The program supports many positive outcomes for mothers, their children, and the greater community. These include fewer childhood injuries, improved prenatal health, increased maternal employment, and improved school readiness. Congratulations to these women, their children, and their families! We wish the moms all the best in their journey as mothers.

Click here to learn more about Nurse-Family Partnership in Central Vermont.

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