Since its inception, Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) has supported first-time mothers by connecting them to nurses during their pregnancy. This parent-nurse relationship starts during pregnancy and continues until the child’s second birthday. To celebrate this milestone, participating mothers and fathers are invited to a graduation party. NFP hosted its most recent graduation at Bellaboo's Play and Discovery Center in Lake Station on August 16 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m., which welcomed 42 graduates along with their families and nurses.
“It was amazing to be able to be allowed into the moms’ journeys from pregnancy through toddlerhood,” said Nurse Corinne Norris. “It was an honor to be with them, to share in their experience, and to give my wealth of knowledge to them too.”
Through NFP, mothers receive at-home care with regular nurse visits. During these visits, nurses assess the mother’s physical health, educate mothers through every step of their pregnancy and early motherhood, and provide various resources.
When Cartenia Anderson got involved with NFP, she was paired with Norris and quickly grew to appreciate her support.
“While I was pregnant, the communication between Corinne and I was really consistent,” Anderson said. “If I had any questions after doctor appointments or if there was something the doctor said that I didn't understand, I knew that she would call me. We would talk about it, and she would help me understand it better.”
NFP has made a difference to so many families with 87% of babies being born at full term and 85% of babies being born at a healthy weight. While the statistics clearly show that babies’ health benefits from the program, NFP goes beyond safeguarding the physical health of mothers and babies to working with mothers on a personal level.
With a complicated pregnancy, Kelly C. felt peace of mind knowing someone knowledgeable and caring would be there for her. She found that support in Nurse Kathie Gibson.
“My favorite part of the program was the one-on-one connection that I felt like I had with my nurse throughout the entire pregnancy,” she said. “If I was in a panic in the middle of the night, my nurse was there for me. The nurses helped to relieve the stress of that first-time pregnancy. It was great having a friend I could rely on and trust to help me get through pregnancy and life after the baby's birth.”
Gibson has worked with seven NFP graduates, two of whom graduated on August 16. She is proud to have built relationships with all of her graduates and cheer them on through pregnancy, birth, and toddlerhood.
“The mothers have done all the work; I have gotten to be a cheerleader to encourage them,” Gibson said. “I think the number one thing that I did was encourage them to believe in themselves. Whatever they put their heart into, they can do no matter what their past is. They can accomplish their dreams and have the future that they envision.”
To learn more about Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership program, email nfp@goodwill-ni.org. Complete the referral form to refer yourself or someone else to the program. For more information about Goodwill and all its community services, visit goodwill-ni.org.
