Narrator: 

Being a first-time parent can seem like an overwhelming task. Clark County's Nurse-Family Partnership Program gives guidance and support to lower income women and teens who are going to be mothers. This voluntary home-visiting program is offered at no cost to the client. Each new mom is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits. The partnership is among several county programs to receive additional funding this year. 

[On Screen: Moms and children playing with toys.] 

Pat Shaw: 

We have had Nurse-Family Partnership in Clark County through the Public Health Department since 2007, and we've had four nurses since 2007, with actually a decrease in FTE in 2009 - 2010. So, we're very excited that with some mental health sales tax revenue, we're able to add a fifth nurse in Clark County, which will allow us to increase, the number of clients we can serve by about 25 to a total of 150.  

[On Screen: Pat Shaw standing in a hallway at the Center for Community Health building, followed by a mom and child visiting with a nurse.] 

Narrator: 

In 2005 Washington legislation passed a bill to allow one tenth of 1% of sales tax revenue to address prevention and intervention relating to mental health and substance abuse. Nurse-Family Partnership receives a portion of that funding. Qualified mothers work closely with a registered nurse to ensure a healthy pregnancy, build a strong support network and provide a safe home for the baby.  

[On Screen: The Washington state capital building, followed by the Center for Community Health building.] 

Barbara Rowland: 

It is the biggest blessing in the world to have a long-term relationship with a client as she transitions to motherhood: as her new baby arrives, as she learns how to take care of her baby, take care of herself. And it's just so wonderful to see and to see our babies growing up in a really healthy environment where their learning and they’re being loved on being played with and learning these positive, amazing little people. And I love working with our clients, the mothers, because we work a lot on what they want to do in their lives, what are their personal life goals, and I help them move towards that. Whether it be graduating from high school, going to college, getting a job, getting a home, whatever it is that they want.  

[On Screen: Public Health nurse Barbara Rowland sitting in the living room of a client’s home.] 

Jessica: 

It's really nice. Just because there's a lot of events that happen in life. So, whenever there's a concern, like my first person to go to is Barb. Especially, if it's anything to do with Camila. Like when she had her first fever, I was, you know, really worried. And I knew what to do because we had talked about that event happening, but I also reached out to Barb just to see what else I could do.  

[On Screen: Jessica visiting with the nurse and playing with her child.] 

Narrator 

First-time mothers can connect with a number of resources. Some of those include Women, Infant and Children, or WIC, YWCA domestic violence support and behavioral health resources. For more information about the Nurse-Family Partnership or to see if you qualify, visit clark.gov/public-health or call 564.397.8440. For providing a strong support network to local women and teens during pregnancy and beyond,yb building a personal relationship with a nurse that ensures the family is getting all the resources they need, the Nurse-Family Partnership with Clark County Public Health is our personal best. 

[On Screen: Contact information for the Nurse-Family Partnership program followed by Public Health nurse Barbara Rowland sitting in the living room of a client’s home.]