The Sonoma County Nurse-Family Partnership is ready to enroll first-time moms in a new home visiting program. The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services, Public Health Division, First 5 Sonoma County and Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County are partners in the Nurse-Family Partnership, a community health program for first-time pregnant mothers and their babies. NFP is ready to enroll first-time moms in its home visiting program who are in the first six months of their pregnancies and eligible for Medi-Cal or WIC.
NFP links new mothers with a trained registered nurse who visits her in her home during the pregnancy and until the baby is two years old. Nurses provide support, education and counseling on health and parenting. Together the nurse assists the woman to set goals for her future and develop life skills. This program is free of charge and completely voluntary.
NFP plans to serve more than 100 mothers with this new program in the coming year. Elisabeth Chicoine, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Director for Sonoma County Health Services, Public Health Division said that there are three excellent home visit programs for expectant mothers in Sonoma County. Nurse-Family Partnership is unique in that it provides more visits for a longer period of time and has a long time proven track record of success.
To start out, four registered nurses, two of whom are bilingual, will be visiting the families in their homes. NFP encourages fathers, family members and even friends to join in the visits to learn how they can best help the mother and baby.
As of April 2010, NFP serves families in 31 states.
For more information about Sonoma County Nurse-Family Partnership, contact Monica Teixido, Public Health Nurse at 565.4536 or mteixido@sonoma-county.org
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