Nurse-Family Partnership Hosts First Graduation for 17 Mothers and Toddlers

August 7, 2019

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) hosted their inaugural graduation on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, to recognize 17 mothers and their toddlers who took part in the program. Hosted at the Tyler Public Library, the occasion served as a culmination of the two and one-half yearlong program, which is designed to help first-time mothers take the best care of their babies.

NFP is an evidenced-based maternal health home visiting program that pairs mothers with nurses who provide guidance from pregnancy to the child’s second birthday. NFP works by having highly trained nurses regularly visit with young, first-time moms-to-be. The expectant moms benefit by getting the care and support they need in order to have a healthy pregnancy. At the same time, new moms develop a close relationship with a nurse who becomes a trusted resource they can rely on for advice on everything from safely caring for their child to taking steps to provide a stable, secure future for their new family. Throughout the relationship, the nurse provides the mothers with the confidence and the tools necessary to not only assure a healthy start for their babies, but to envision a life of stability and opportunities for success for both mother and child.

“Over two years ago, 17 first-time pregnant women said “YES” to inviting a Nurse Home Visitor to walk alongside them through their pregnancy, birth and early parenting,” said Susan Rodriguez, program manager. “Now, as mothers of two-year old toddlers, they are graduating and moving on with confidence as parents, an understanding of child development and a roadmap for the future of their families.”

Federally funded through a grant, NFP provides these services for free to the expectant mothers. The program, founded in 2016, maintains three goals: improving pregnancy outcomes, improving child health and development and improving the economic self-sufficiency of the family. “We focus on providing education and resources to help that mom to have and raise a healthy baby.”

While NFP hosts multiple activities for mothers participating in the program to socially interact with each other, home visits are personalized and focus on a multitude of assessments to ensure a health mom and baby. Initially, visits are once per week and taper to once per month after the child reaches 18 months.

Concluding the ceremony, Rodriguez commented, “They are to be applauded for their commitment to being the best mothers they can be!”