Strong families are the building blocks of a strong society.
It is critical that parents have the tools they need to provide their children
with a stable, nurturing environment. This begins with a healthy pregnancy.
When Karina Montero learned she was pregnant, she was both
happy and apprehensive. She was thrilled when she saw the results of her first
ultrasound and began to feel her baby move, but despite her excitement, Karina
was still nervous about being a first-time mom. Though she had support from her
boyfriend Gustavo, she had no family members nearby.
Karina found out about the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP), a
free program of Yavapai County Community Health Services funded by First Things
First. The program partners with women and their families who are expecting
their first child. Through the NFP, pregnant women receive weekly home visits
from a nurse, who provides them with individualized support, pregnancy and
parenting education, and refers them to any community resources they may need.
The program recognizes that the parents are a child’s first teachers, and families can stay enrolled in the program
until their child turns 2. Karina enthusiastically decided to enroll.
Now, Karina receives visits each week from Kathy, her NFP
nurse. During their visits, the two talk a lot about having a healthy pregnancy
and a healthy baby, and Kathy also provides Karina with information on things
like mental health, stress, relationships, and even how to cook on a budget-
everything to help her and Gustavo prepare to be the best parents they can be.
“There’s no subject we don’t talk about,” said Kathy.
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| Karina meets with Kathy, her Nurse Family Partnership nurse. |
Karina is eager to learn everything she can, and asks Kathy
a lot of questions. “This program is like school, like my own personal prenatal
and parenting class,” said Karina. Even between visits, Karina can call Kathy
with any questions she may have. “I never feel alone,” said Karina. “I may not
have my mom here, but I have Kathy.”
Kathy also helps Karina plan both short and long-term goals
for her family. In the future, Karina plans to attend college to become either
a teacher or a nurse.
“Because of Kathy’s help, I’m not scared, and I’m ready to
be a parent,” Karina said. “Because of the Nurse Family Partnership, I’m more
ready for what’s coming. I’m ready to apply the skills I’ve learned to be a
great mom to my baby.”
The Nurse Family Partnership is a program available to
first-time pregnant women in Yavapai County, and is funded by First Things
First. For more information on the Nurse Family Partnership or to enroll,
please call (928)-634-6851 in the Verde Valley area and (928)-442-5478 in the
Quad-city area. To learn more about First Things First and what it does to
promote strong families, please visit ReadyAZKids.com.
See the Full Article on the Daily Courier website: http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=121527&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&S=1
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