During April’s annual observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month, programs such as Nurse-Family Partnership Program are recognized for efforts in helping to prevent these tragedies. The program has been launched in 250 counties nationwide and is a joint effort locally between Home Nursing Agency, Families First of Huntingdon County and Families First Community Collaborative of Blair County.
Child Abuse is a national tragedy, taking the lives of three children everyday and affecting millions of children and families each year. Everyone has a role to prevent child abuse and neglect. The best way to prevent child abuse and neglect is to support families and provide parents with the skills and resources they need.
Through the program, registered nurses provide home visitation for first-time pregnant mothers and their babies throughout Blair and Huntingdon counties. According to Maryann Burger, director of Blair County Children and Youth Services, it has succeeded, both locally and nationally, in promoting healthy growth and development of the baby.
Burger said another integral part of the program helps the mother to understand normal behaviors of children and how to cope when these behaviors become challenging.
“Through education and guidance, the nurses talk with expectant mothers about the medical, psychological, social and developmental aspects of being pregnant. This positive intervention carries over until the baby reaches two years of age. It’s so important for parents to have the right expectations to curtail frustration, which in turn, helps to prevent child abuse,” she said.
The program also works to enhance informal support for families, especially the involvement of fathers and grandmothers as significant caregivers and sources of support for the mother. In addition, nurses from Home Nursing Agency link families with needed health and human services in the community.
An ardent supporter of Nurse-Family Partnership, Blair County Commissioner Donna Gority, believes home visitation is one of the most unique aspects of the program because it’s allows more time for a personable relationship to develop between the nurse and family.
“It’s not unusual for a new mom to have 101 questions and since most nurses have both a caring demeanor and a strong basis of medical knowledge, they can provide moms with answers and have the time to give guidance in so many ways,” said Gority.
Each nurse strives to develop the rapport and trust of each family, and it is through these strong relationships that the program is culturally competent and achieves its positive effects. Lisa Ritchey, supervisor of Home Nursing Agency Nurse-Family Partnership, said the nurses in her program typically form very strong bonds with the mothers and develop ‘mentoring relationships’ with them.
“It’s very common for our nurses to be considered as big sisters,” said Ritchey.
This is a voluntary program available at no charge to first-time moms who meet income requirements. Funded by grant monies, the program currently has an enrollment of 100 new mothers.
Starting in pregnancy, the nurses help women improve their diet and nutrition, obtain proper obstetric care, and avoid tobacco or other harmful substances in order to foster healthier pregnancies. A baby who is of normal birth weight and born full-term is much more likely to be easy to care for and more likely to continue to develop normally.
After delivery, the nurses assist these parents to develop the skills and confidence to successfully care for their babies, improving the health and development of the child. By enhancing bonding and attachment between the family and infant, the foundation can be laid for a secure, nurturing environment.
Ritchey said three children currently enrolled in the program celebrate first birthdays next month.
The program also focuses on encouraging self-sufficiency by helping parents develop a vision for their own future that includes a plan for continuing their education, finding adequate employment and future pregnancy decisions.
For more information on Nurse-Family Partnership or any of the many other programs offered by the Home Nursing Agency such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC) please call 1-800-315-4358 or 942-1903.
