April 23, 2010 DHH and the Louisiana Nurse-Family Partnership Celebrate NFP Day at the State Capitol

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Apr 23, 2010 - The Louisiana Department of Health is joining the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families to celebrate Nurse-Family Partnership Day at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Monday, April 26, 2010. The Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) is an evidence-based community health program which helps transform the lives of vulnerable mothers pregnant with their first child.

NFP provides nurse home visitation services to low income, first-time mothers. Nurses begin home visits early in the mother’s pregnancy and continue visitation until the child’s second birthday. Nurses provide support, education and counseling on health, behavioral and self-sufficiency issues. Since 1999, LDH has served more than 6,600 young mothers participating in the Nurse-Family Partnership program in Louisiana, and nurse home visitors have conducted more than 128,000 home visits across the state. Independent analyses have shown that communities benefit socially and financially when they invest in NFP, and the partnership has been shown to have a favorable economic return to communities of $5.70 for every public dollar spent on the program.

“As we move our state toward a new model of care for our neediest families – a system that ensures healthier outcomes for the dollars we spend – programs like the Nurse Family Partnership will continue to play a key role in providing much-needed preventative care for children and families,” said LDH Secretary Alan Levine. “Despite the best efforts of our medical professionals, Louisiana continues to rank poorly in various birth-outcome measures, and by investing in programs like the NFP, we can greatly improve our kids’ health.”

DHH’s FY 11 budget proposal includes $2.5 million in state general fund dollars for the NFP program. Trials of the NFP conducted over the past 30 years demonstrate multi-generational outcomes for families and their communities. Mothers and children who have participated in the program have consistently demonstrated significantly improved prenatal health, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased maternal employment,  improved child school readiness, reduced involvement in crime, and less child abuse, neglect and injuries.

The Nurse-Family Partnership program is currently delivered to approximately 21,000 families in 31 states. Learn more about NFP at http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/.

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about LDH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

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