Nurse-Family Partnership Program Celebrates National Success Story

          New Castle, PA  (April 20, 2005) - Nurse-Family Partnership - a program being implemented through Children's Advocacy Center, an affiliate of Jameson Health System in Lawrence County made national news this week in the April 25th issue of Newsweek.  The Nurse-Family Partnership program is recognized as one of the nation's most successful, life-changing, cost-effective prevention programs of its kind.

            Nurse-Family Partnership is a voluntary prevention program providing nurse home visitation services to low income, first-time teenage mothers in the area.  Specially trained nurses begin services early in pregnancy and continue visitation through the child's second year.  Nurses provide support, education and counseling on health, behavioral, self-sufficiency and parenting issues.

           The program has delivered dramatic results and is supported by over 30 years of scientific research.  Some of the results for mothers include:

           >  79% reduction in child abuse and neglect

           >  69% reduction in arrests

           >  30 fewer months of welfare use

           >  Move off welfare to successful employment earlier

          A few of the results for children include:

          >  56% reduction in alcohol use

          >  56% fewer arrests

          >  81% fewer convictions by the age of 15

          >  A dramatic improvement in readiness to enter school

          A recent cost-benefit analysis by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy showed a savings of  over $17,000 for each child born to a Nurse-Family Partnership mother. In light of these proven outcomes, Nurse-Family Partnership has been praised by the national Institute for Early Education Research, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, the office of the Surgeon General, and the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

          There are currently 100 young mothers participating in the Children's Advocacy Center's Nurse-Family Partnership program in Lawrence County.  "This program can change the future for multiple generations," says Sue Ascione, Director of the Children's Advocacy Center.  "Giving these girls the skills, support and knowledge they need to become effective parents will impact generations to come."

          For more information about the Children's Advocacy Center's Nurse-Family Partnership program, please call Sue Ascione at 724.658.4688 or go to www.nursefamilypartnership.org.

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