The Nurse Family Partnership is an evidence-based, nurse home-visitation program that provides education and support to first time, low income parents. Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) is currently operating under a contract with the Health and Human Services Commission to provide the Nurse Family Partnership Program to 100 TCHP members.
A registered nurse begins seeing the mother as early in pregnancy as possible and can follow the mother and child up to the child’s 2nd birthday. The ideal entry into the program is by the 16th week gestation, and clients may not be enrolled after 28 weeks. The program is client-focused and developmentally appropriate. The nurses must complete extensive training the first year of program implementation. Data collection occurs during each home visit and at routine periods throughout the program using a national web based data collection system.
Community Impact 2011
- In fiscal year 2011, the Nurse Family Partnership served 103 mothers and conducted 981 patient visits.
- In August of 2011, TCHP, the Baylor Teen Clinic and the City of Houston hosted a joint open house and client recognition event as a means to raise awareness of the Nurse Family Partnership with local leaders and stakeholders.
- The Nurse Family Partnership graduated 30 moms from the program in 2011. This represents a 2½ year commitment on the part of the mother. Graduates’ accomplishments include obtaining a high school diploma, G.E.D, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and multiple examples of full time employment, independent living, private insurance and departure from unhealthy and unsafe relationships.
- Exceeded our 2011 goal and contract requirement to enroll 40% of all moms into our program by 16 weeks gestation. In 2011, 50% of all moms enrolled were 16 weeks or less.
- Cultivated a diverse and robust Community Advisory Board that met quarterly, with a physician from the Women’s Specialists of Houston serving as chair of the committee.
- Members attended childbirth education classes and Safe Rider car seat classes. Nurses buddy with TCHP provider relation representatives in their geographic area to help build relationships with provider offices and act as a referral source to the Nurse Family Partnership program.
