Since 2010, SVP Charlotte has supported Nurse Family Partnership (NFP), a maternal health program provided by CareRing. In 2014, we began a new relationship with NFP, partnering with them through the SVP Investee model.
NFP Updates
Recently, NFP hired Ursula Douglas as head nurse. CareRing Executive Director Don Jonas lauded the added drive Ursula brings to NFP, adding that Ursula “understands the value of collaboration” and “gets the big picture of community health.”
“Her background as a labor and delivery, school, and public health nurse gives her a well-rounded clinical background that gives her a special perspective on the population we serve,” Jonas said. “Ursula was once a young mother herself, and her life experiences bring additional appreciation of the sometimes very challenging work that we do.”
“Every day, she brings passion and an entrepreneurial drive to our NFP team.”
More on NFP
Through a public-private partnership, NFP provides maternal health programs to vulnerable first-time parents. Their programs allow nurses to deliver the support first-time moms need to have a healthy pregnancy, become knowledgeable and responsible parents, and provide their babies with the best possible start in life.
Through extensive research conducted over more than 37 years, Nurse-Family Partnership has a proven level of effectiveness. Three randomized, controlled trials demonstrate that Nurse-Family Partnership delivers against its goals of better pregnancy outcomes, improved child health and development, and increased economic self-sufficiency. These outcomes contribute to preventing child abuse, reducing juvenile crime, and increasing school readiness.
Jonas noted that, in accord with a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NFP is built on a an evidence-based model and structure that is key to fostering a culture of health in communities.
“NFP nurtures stronger and healthier families from the ground up,” Jonas said. “Families [that] graduate from the program are on track to succeed […] I see a tide rising nationwide to invest in early interventions like NFP.”
Mecklenburg County NFP Community Advisory Board Chair Liz Winer noted that NFP’s focus on education, nutrition and family planning helps families break the cycle of poverty by targeting its root causes.
“NFP works to ensure that each mother attains either a GED or high school diploma,” said Winer. “Early on, we discuss a variety of family planning options with each mother, empowering them to make the right decisions for themselves and their families.”
NFP, SVP and our Future
In light of NFP’s focus, SVP has come alongside their staff and board to help with developing and implementing an overall strategy for scaling the NFP program in Mecklenburg County. NFP plans to expand to serve 300 families by 2016. This planned expansion is the priority of a 2013 strategic plan that relied on and referenced critical research provided through Council for Children’s Rights, a direct a result of SVP-Charlotte’s initial investment in NFP.
Under Jonas’ leadership, Care Ring began aggressively soliciting funds for NFP from multiple sources in 2013. These fundraising efforts are attracting additional capital, including financial assistance from the United Way of Central Carolinas, Mecklenburg County, Sisters of Mercy, and others. With these successes and new additions like Douglas to their nurse cohort, Care Ring and NFP are confident that they will continue to grow.
