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Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)

Nurse-Family Partnership is a community health program that helps transform the lives of people pregnant with their first child. The program partners families with registered nurses from pregnancy through a child's second birthday, allowing nurses to deliver the support first-time parents need to have a healthy pregnancy, become knowledgeable and responsible parents, and provide their babies with the best possible start in life. The relationship between parent and nurse provides the foundation for strong families, and lives are forever changed—for the better.

Services for people pregnant with their first child

Nurse-Family Partnership helps first-time, low-income people with the support they need to become confident and strong parents, and ultimately give their babies the best possible start in life. Learn more about this free program.

Nurse-Family Partnership helps people pregnant with their first child, just like you, prepare for the birth of your child by partnering you with a nurse home visitor. When you enroll in the program, a specially trained nurse will visit you throughout your pregnancy and until your baby turns two years old. During these visits, your nurse will offer the knowledge and support you need to confidently create a better life for your baby and yourself.

As a first-time parent, you most likely have a ton of questions. That's why Nurse-Family Partnership starts working with you before you give birth to your child. By meeting with you as early in your pregnancy as possible, our nurse home visitors address your questions and concerns, prepare you for childbirth, and help ensure that you deliver a healthy baby.

From helping you have a healthy pregnancy, to coaching you on child development, to empowering you to pursue your heart's desire, your nurse home visitor will always be there for you, so you can be there for your baby.

Nurse-Family Partnership is a free program for young women who are:

  • pregnant with their first child
  • meet income requirements

Your nurse home visitor offers a prenatal assistance program that helps you before and after your baby is born. Each visit is designed around three goals: a healthy pregnancy and delivery, your baby's good health and development, and your vision and goals for your future.

Through the Nurse-Family Partnership, you will be connected with a nurse who will visit every week or two during your pregnancy and up until your baby is two years. Your nurse will help you:

  • Have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby
  • Become a stronger parent
  • Build a strong network of support for you and your baby
  • Make your home a safe place for your baby to live and play
  • Get referrals for health care, child care, job training and other support services available in your community
  • Find ways to continue your education and develop job skills
  • Set goals for your family's future and find ways to help you reach them

After you deliver your baby, the nurse who helped you prepare for all the stages of your pregnancy will still be there for you – through breastfeeding, bathing your baby, and changing diapers. She'll answer all your questions about pregnancy, and after your baby is born will talk with you about talking to your little one – and about planning goals so that your family has a good future.

➜ Enroll now

To enroll, please call 206-477-6262 or use our online form.

For community partners and health care providers

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based community health program that helps transform the lives of people pregnant with their first child. Each client served by NFP is partnered with a registered nurse early in their pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits that continue through their child's second birthday.

Fax numbers:

  • Seattle: Seattle and North King County, 206-296-0184
  • Columbia: South Seattle and South King County, 206-205-0406
  • Kent: South King County, 206-296-3300

For policy makers

Nurse-Family Partnership is at the forefront of community health programs because it is evidence-based. More than 30 years of research from randomized, controlled trials prove it works—delivering multi-generational outcomes that benefit communities and eliminate the costs of long-term social service programs.

Examples of specific outcomes from one or more of the trials include:

  • 48% reduction in child abuse and neglect
  • 56% reduction in emergency room visits for accidents and poisonings
  • 59% reduction in arrests at child age 15
  • 67% reduction in behavioral and intellectual problems at child age six
  • 72% fewer convictions of mothers at child age 15

Read about the program's benefits and costs.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership focuses on first-time parents. It is during a first pregnancy that the best chance exists to promote and teach positive health and development behaviors between a parent and their baby.

  • The Nurse-Family Partnership program is delivered by registered nurses who are perceived as trusted and competent professionals, fostering a powerful bond between nurse and client.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership has sufficient duration. Typically, a client begins to work with their nurse home visitor during their first or second trimester and continues through the child's second birthday. This early intervention during pregnancy allows for any critical behavioral changes needed to improve the health of the parent and child.

Learn more about the relationship between NFP nurses and clients enrolled in the program.

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