Rutland
posted
Oct 18, 2012
Dozens of families in Rutland County will now get the support
they need to give their children a great start in life thanks to an
award from the state of Vermont on behalf of the Nurse Family
Partnership (NFP) announced Oct. 12. A grant of nearly $942,000
covers the cost of funding the implementation of an innovative new
state-of-the art program for low-income, first-time
mothers. The grant will be paid to Rutland Area Visiting Nurse
Association & Hospice, who will manage the funds and implement
the program over a three-year period.
The Nurse-Family Partnership is a nationally recognized program
designed to ensure that first-time moms are provided with the
skills, support and knowledge they need to become effective parents
through one-on-one home visits by a trained registered nurse.
"We thank the NFP for its generous support of RAVNAH and our
nursing staff to change the lives of vulnerable young families,"
said Ronald J. Cioffi, RAVNAH CEO. "This funding will enable RAVNAH
nurses to be trained in using a new tool to accurately assess young
parents' skills in interacting with their babies, helping mom or
dad to be more competent and confident in their child rearing
skills."
The visits begin early in the woman's pregnancy and conclude
when the child turns two years old. During home visits, RAVNAH
nurses work with young mothers to achieve the main goals of a
healthy pregnancy and delivery, improved child health and
development through improved parenting skills, and economic
self-sufficiency for the families, as the parents are helped to set
goals for education and work.
RAVNAH will manage the program in Rutland and Bennington
Counties and will provide two registered nurses and a half-time
nursing supervisor. Referrals for the new Nurse-Family Partnership
will come through Children's Integrated Services (CIS), a
state-wide program designed to enhance the lives of children and
families.
The Nurse-Family Partnership program is wholly funded by HRSA
(Health Resources and Services Administration). HRSA is an agency
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the primary
Federal agency responsible for improving access to health care
services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically
vulnerable and for making grants to organizations that improve and
expand health care services for underserved people.
For more information about the Nurse-Family Partnership call
RAVNAH at 775-0568.
