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White House Points to Nurse-Family Partnership as 'Most Promising'; Calls for Seed Capital to Fund Greater Expansion

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 May 2009, 14:53 CDT

DENVER, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House pointed to Nurse-Family Partnership in its call for a public investment of $50 million in seed capital to identify the "most promising, results-oriented non-profit programs" and expand their reach throughout the country.

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a voluntary prevention program providing nurse home visitation services to low income, first-time mothers in 28 U.S. states. Nurses begin home visits early in the mother's pregnancy and continue visitation through the child's second year. Nurses provide support, education and counseling on health, parenting and economic self-sufficiency issues.

More than 30 years of scientific research on NFP in randomized, controlled trials show consistent results in transforming the lives of vulnerable young families. Demonstrated results include (but are not limited to) improved birth outcomes, reduced child maltreatment, improved school readiness, and reductions in crime and poverty involving both the mother and the child.

First Lady Michelle Obama announced the White House funding proposal for the Social Innovation Fund which Congress authorized recently as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. "The idea is simple: to find the most effective programs out there and then provide the capital needed to replicate their success in communities around the country that are facing similar challenges," Obama said in prepared remarks Tuesday at the Time 100 Most Influential People Awards in New York City. "By focusing on high-impact, result-oriented nonprofits, we will ensure that government dollars are spent in a way that is effective, accountable and worthy of the public trust."

"President Obama has proposed funding for home visitation for vulnerable families in his 2010 budget plan. That potential federal funding for communities, coupled with 'seed' money to enable non-profits like Nurse-Family Partnership to speed replication efforts of proven programs, makes sense," said Thomas R. Jenkins, president and CEO, Nurse-Family Partnership. "We are honored that the White House has pointed to NFP as an example of a proven program, with strong evidence of effectiveness."

The full White House press release ("President Obama to Request $50 Million to Identify and Expand Effective, Innovative Non-Profits") can be viewed on www.whitehouse.gov.

Nurse-Family Partnership serves more than 17,000 families in 28 states. It's estimated that every year there are approximately 600,000 eligible first-time mothers in the U.S. that would benefit from the program.

About Nurse-Family Partnership

The Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office (www.nursefamilypartnership.org) is committed to producing enduring improvements in the health and well being of low-income, first-time parents and their children by helping communities implement and sustain an evidence-based program of home visiting by registered nurses. Nurse-Family Partnership is the most rigorously tested program of its kind. Randomized, controlled trials conducted over 30 years demonstrate multi-generational outcomes that benefit society economically and reduce long-term social service expenditures. Nurse-Family Partnership is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

SOURCE Nurse-Family Partnership

Source: PR Newswire

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