LOCAL HEROES: 10 years of helping moms and babies

First-time, low-income mothers in Pierce County have a resource to have successful pregnancies and healthy babies.

Through the Nurse-Family Partnership program, they receive the support, information, and services they need for free.

In July, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department celebrated 10 years since implementing the program that has transformed lives in the community. To mark the milestone, the Nurse-Family Partnership held a public event July 20 at the STAR Center in Tacoma. The celebration was a time for program nurses and families they helped over the years to share their experiences.

Nearly 300 families have "graduated" from the program since it began at the Health Department, officials noted.

“We see the lives of young women and their families transformed with the help of this dedicated, specially trained team of nurses,” said Susan Pfeifer, the Nurse-Family Partnership program manager. “Through this nurse-family relationship, parents are better equipped to build healthy and successful lives for themselves and their child."

Empowering positive change

The Nurse-Family Partnership is a free, evidence-based program for young, first-time mothers with low income. Families receive direct services during home visits. The goal is to improve:

• Pregnancy outcomes.

• Child health and development.

• Economic self-sufficiency of the family.

Through regular visits, the nurses, the mothers and their babies form a bond, officials said. The visits start before the mother’s seventh month of pregnancy and continue until the child's second birthday. Nurses get to know the women and the unique circumstances of their pregnancies. They offer support the mothers—many of whom can be socially isolated and lack access to accurate health and parenting information—and their babies need, but wouldn't get otherwise, according to Pfeifer.

Based on scientific evidence from the program, a child’s early development years are crucial for long-term success.

Beyond health services, mothers receive life skills and help to further their education, find employment and other pursuits. The long-term goal is to give parents the skills to raise healthy children who then become great parents themselves, Pfeifer explained.

Nationally, Nurse-Family Partnership has been in existence for about 40 years. More about the program and its eligibility requirements can be learned at www.tpchd.org/nursefamilypartnership.

In addition, to see a short YouTube video of a nurse and her client share their experiences, go to https://youtu.be/oWheOAGidUI.

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s mission is to protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County. As part of its mission, the agency tackles known and emerging health risks through policy, programs and treatment in order to protect public health.

The Health Department is one of 163 accredited health departments in the country, and among six in Washington, that have met or exceeded the Public Health Accreditation Board’s quality standards. More information is available at www.tpchd.org.