MCH Nurse Home Visitation: Nurse-Family Partnership implemented by Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana

Background:

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a model of care delivered in the home by nurses; based on 35 years of research, including 3 large randomized control trials. Evidence of positive outcomes assures NFP funders, implementers and participants of positive return on investment.

Description:

Goodwill began implementation of NFP November 2011 in Indianapolis, IN.  Federal funding provided by Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) through state health department. Currently, the home visiting program employs 31 full-time nurses,  actively visiting nearly 600 clients in Marion county.

Lessons Learned:

Benefits of having a non-healthcare organization implement NFP have been demonstrated.  Program outcomes will be shared.  For example, 88% of 181 NFP infants born in 2013 were breastfed; 41% were breastfed at 3 months; and 24% were breastfed at 6 months. Organization allows full focus of nurse and administrator time; all MIECHV resources are devoted to operating the program. Priority access to Goodwill’s other services- including adult high schools and job placement - contribute to improved self-sufficiency outcomes, thus demonstrating a focus on social determinants of health.  Goodwill’s favorable reputation in the community enabled this model of home visiting to quickly gain trust in the community, allowing us to reach capacity in just 3 years. Overall, the organizational mission and the program’s goals are well aligned and contribute to the success of the program.

Implications/Recommendations:

This successful implementation of a large scale, evidence-based nurse home visiting program within a non-healthcare organization could have implications for other public health nursing programs with similar focus.