Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) programs have specially trained registered nurses deliver home visits to first-time, low-income mothers for a period of 2 1/2 years, beginning early in pregnancy until the child turns 2. The primary goal of NFP is to improve the health, relationships, and economic well-being of mothers and their children. The program provides individualized goal setting, preventive health practices, parenting skills, and educational and career planning. NFP is rated as a well-supported practice by the Title IV- E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The following resources offer additional information on NFP and its effectiveness, including State and local examples.
Improving the Nurse-Family Partnership in Community Practice
Olds, Donelan-McCall, O'Brien, MacMillan, Jack, Jenkins, Dunlap, et al. (2013)
Pediatrics, 132(2)
Provides a framework and illustrations to address challenges associated with the Nurse-Family Partnership home-visiting model and its implementation, as well as promising approaches for addressing these challenges.
Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visitation: Costs, Outcomes, and Return on Investment: Executive Summary
Miller (2013)
Pew Center on the States
Analyzes Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program costs, life status and functional outcomes, and return on investment in NFP services, which include intensive pre- and postnatal home visitation by nurses. In addition to the positive outcomes for children and families, summary data indicate a number of cost-saving benefits for Federal and State governments and agencies, including reduced spending on Medicaid, food stamps, and other assistance programs.
State and local examples
Evaluation of Maternal and Child Home Visitation Programs: Lessons from Pennsylvania (PDF - 836 KB)
Matone, Curtis, Chesnokova, Yun, Kreider, Curtis, & Rubin (2013)
PolicyLab
Offers an overview of public health program evaluation, including lessons learned from PolicyLab's evaluation of the Pennsylvania Nurse-Family Partnership home visitation program, describes how findings can be meaningful for the broader home visitation community, and highlights three key program evaluation concepts from PolicyLab's work. This Evidence to Action brief is intended to assist State and local maternal and child home visitation program administrators with program evaluation decision-making.
Effect of the Nurse Family Partnership on Government Expenditures for Vulnerable First-Time Mothers and Their Children in Elmira, New York, Memphis, Tennessee, and Denver, Colorado
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Discusses the findings of a study that conducted long-term economic analyses of the Nurse-Family Partnership program at three sites.
Final Report: Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Enhanced Yakima County Nurse-Family Partnership (EYCNFP) Program at Children's Village
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (2013)
View Abstract
Describes the activities and outcomes of a federally funded demonstration project that provided nurse home visits to low-income pregnant women with additional Healthy Marriage/Responsible Father services for clients and Mental Health Consultant services for program staff. Evaluation indicates success in many areas, including program implementation, improved access to community services, and decreased child maltreatment and family conflict. Implications of the results and future recommendations are discussed.
Home Visiting in Texas: Current and Future Directions (PDF - 2,386 KB)
Wilson, McClure, & Phillips (2013)
The Texas Association for the Protection of Children
Discusses the importance of early intervention in child development and abuse prevention and the benefits of home-visiting programs in Texas. This report includes an overview of home visiting, including scope and funding, and information on the impact of adverse childhood experiences on child health and development; identifies and describes seven evidence-based home-visiting programs; and it discusses the outcomes of home-visiting programs in Texas and the benefits of high-quality home-visiting programs to children, families, and society. Results and recommendations for improving services are also included.
Investing in Healthier Families: Nurse-Family Partnership: A Promise for South Carolina's Future (PDF - 2,735 KB)
Nurse-Family Partnership (2017)
Provides an overview of the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) home visitation program in South Carolina, including a review of State challenges highlighting a need for services. NFP program success and improved outcomes for families are illustrated.