The Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) serves a high-risk population of low-income participants facing health and social challenges. The program lasts for 2.5 years and participation is voluntary. Attrition can occur due to reasons such as relocation, miscarriage, difficulty in contacting clients, or clients choosing to leave the program.

Here are the average monthly caseloads:

• 2021: 167 clients
• 2022: 185 clients
• 2023: 179 clients
• 2024: 153 clients

Total clients served over the years:

• 2021: 250 clients
• 2022: 256 clients
• 2023: 249 clients
• 2024: 255 clients

NFP visits are primarily conducted in person, with telehealth visits serving as an additional means to stay connected. Most visits occur in clients’ homes.

Graduating clients from NFP include:

• 2021: 73 clients and their toddlers
• 2022: 53 clients and their toddlers
• 2023: 49 clients and their toddlers
• 2024: 79 clients and their toddlers

It's important to note that graduation numbers were lower in 2022 and 2023 compared to 2021 due to a pause in enrollment during the mass COVID-19 vaccination efforts from January to June 2020, which diverted nurses' time. Caseloads were gradually rebuilt after nurses returned to focusing fully on the NFP program. Clients typically remain in the program for about 2.5 years before graduating. In March, 2024 two nurses retired. As of the end of the year, only one has been replaced due to few applicants. In July 2024, NFP caseload was adjusted to 21-25 clients per nurse instead of 25-30 clients per nurse. Both of these factors affected caseload this year.

The Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based home visiting program for first-time, low-income pregnant women and their families, beginning early in pregnancy and continuing until the baby’s second birthday. For more information, you can visit Nurse-Family Partnership or check the Forsyth County Public Health resource.

Individuals may qualify for the Nurse-Family Partnership if they:

• Are pregnant with their first baby
• Live in Forsyth County
• Are early in their pregnancy
• Have an income that meets Medicaid or WIC eligibility criteria

Through weekly or twice a month home visits starting early in pregnancy until the baby is two years old, nurses support firsttime moms toward three goals:
1. Improved pregnancy outcomes
2. Improved child health and development
3. Improved economic self-sufficiency of the family

Goals set with client and care manager include pregnancy awareness and danger signs of hypertension and pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, rupture of placenta (normal vs. abnormal/premature, danger signs). growth and development of fetus, breastfeeding, nutrition and WIC, and labor and delivery. After delivery, post-partum danger signs and recovery are discussed, any chronic or pregnancy conditions are monitored such as hypertention, and many growth, development and parenting of infant and toddler topics are covered. Referrals to food resources, housing, job resources and other community resources happen at any time throughout the program. Goals per National NFP include assisting clients toward self-sufficiency, through finding liveable wage employment, completing high school/GED, college or training programs, and making indivudualized plans for the economic improvement of the family. NFP nurses support participants in multiple areas of personal, emotional, physical, financial, educational and parental areas.

The NFP team develops and maintains good relationships with community partners that serve pregnant and parenting families through members of the NFP Community Advisory Board (CAB) members and community partners. The CAB members represent the local hospital systems, faith community, community organizations and former NFP clients. CAB members support the NFP program and participants through consultation and networking to reach program goals.

In 2023, the NFP program held two graduation events to celebrate the completion of the program for 49 clients and their two-year olds. NFP nurses provided support and education throughout the year through home visits and special events. NFP nurses also provided special opportunities for family support, education and enrichment through partnerships with community groups. Partnership with a local church provided for Thanksgiving food boxes to be delivered to NFP families.  Additional partners provided donations of non-perishable food boxes and children's pajamas for the NFP nurses to distribute to NFP families. The Diaper Bank of NC remains a strong partner for NFP families, providing diaper and personal hygiene products for NFP families that the nurses distribute.

The NFP supervisor received a national award, NFP Tenacious Caregiver Award, at the NFP National Symposium. 

The NFP team continue to provide excellent homevisiting services to first-time parents in Forsyth County. NFP nurses serve families in their homes or wherever the client feels most comfortable. Two graduations were held in 2024 for 79 NFP graduates and their toddlers. Partnerships continue with Reach Out and Read, the Diaper Bank of NC and many other community partners. Kaleideum remains a strong partner with NFP for acces to their museum for families. Toys for Tots became a new partner in 2024, providing toys for NFP families. Another church partner provided holiday gifts as well. 

NFP nurses also serve the larger community including responding to shelter needs and annual vaccination campaigns.

In 2022, the NFP program held two graduation events to celebrate the completion of the program for 53 clients and their two-year olds. NFP nurses provided support and education throughout the year through home visits and special events. NFP nurses also provided special opportunities for family support, education and enrichment through partnerships with community groups. Partnership with a local church provided for Thanksgiving food boxes to be delivered to NFP families. The NFP program celebrated 10 years of community impact with recognition at the fall graduation. Reach Out and Read remains a strong partner, providing childrens' books so that the nurses can give them to families and promote reading within the families. One NFP nurse received the Lifetime Achievement Award by GlaxoSmith Kline at the Fall North Carolina Public Health Association conference.

NFP nurses provided more in-person visits than in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. The NFP team continued to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic with public health activities, but at a reduced percentage of time compared to 2021. The Mpox outbreak required NFP nurses to assist with vaccinations of community residents in the clinic.