Preschool teacher Gabriela Rodriguez, 25, has received visits in her home
from registered nurse Debi Zingone ever since she learned that she was pregnant
with her daughter, Penelope, now 14 months old.
Rodriguez is client of Project Self-Sufficiency’s Nurse Family
Partnership program. Zingone provided
invaluable support throughout Rodriguez’ pregnancy and she will continue to
visit the mother and child regularly until the youngster celebrates her second
birthday.
“From Debi I learned things I can use to make sure that my baby is okay,”
explains Rodriguez who also attends college in pursuit of a degree in
education. “I learned how to put my baby
to sleep, which foods to give her, and how to deal with my anxiety. I had a lot of worries about having a baby,
and I was having a hard time because I felt very alone. Everything I’ve learned I owe to my nurse
home visitor, Debi.”
Women who are pregnant with their first child can receive regular visits
from a nurse in the privacy of their own home through the Nurse Family
Partnership program offered by Project Self-Sufficiency. Eligible, first-time mothers of all ages are
paired with a nurse who visits them throughout the pregnancy and up until the
child’s second birthday. Nurse-Family
Partnership is founded on the pioneering work of David Olds, professor of
pediatrics, psychiatry, and preventive medicine at the University of Colorado
in Denver. Olds' determination to help
young children and families get a better start in life led to the development
of a nurse home visitation program for first-time, low-income moms and their
children. The voluntary program was
tested extensively prior to its launch in 1996; since then it has served more
than 260,000 families in 42 states, the United States Virgin Islands and six
tribal communities. The initiative is
one of three different home visitation programs for young mothers which is
provided by Project Self-Sufficiency to families in northwestern New Jersey.
The visiting nurses
provide support, education and counseling on health, behavioral and
self-sufficiency issues. “Our
goal is to improve pregnancy outcomes, and to assist parents with improving
early childhood development, while helping the family to move towards economic
self-sufficiency,” explains
Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “All of the home visitation programs offered
by Project Self-Sufficiency are designed to empower mothers to be the best parents
they can be.”
Nurse Family Partnership
is one the most rigorously tested programs of its kind. Mothers and children who have participated in
the program have consistently demonstrated significantly improved prenatal
health, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased maternal employment, improved
child school readiness, reduced involvement in crime, and less child abuse,
neglect and injuries.
“I would recommend this program because it’s a beautiful experience,”
remarks Rodriguez. “Not a lot of people
can get this kind of help and learn how to take care of their babies from a
registered nurse. It’s particularly
helpful for single mothers or for first-time moms who don’t have help from
their family.”
Project Self-Sufficiency is celebrating its thirtieth year of providing services
to families in the New Jersey counties of Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon. Programs include career guidance, computer
training, help with obtaining a high school diploma, parenting skills classes,
legal assistance and education, financial workshops, health education,
childcare and family activities. The
agency offers help around the holidays, formal dresses during prom season, and assistance
with emergency basic needs, such as food and clothing to its participants. Most services are free and many are open to
the public.
Those who are interested in learning more about the Nurse-Family
Partnership, or any of the other programs offered at Project Self-Sufficiency,
are encouraged to call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.
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