The Seattle City Council’s Budget Committee votes tomorrow morning, Nov. 9, on whether to spend $2.3 million from the general fund to expand the Nurse-Family Partnership program to serve more low-income mothers in 2013-2014. The full Council adopts the city budget Nov. 19.
Nurse-Family Partnership is a national nonprofit program that trains public health nurses to visit mothers living in poverty, at no cost, twice a week from before birth until a child is 2 years old. The nurses establish trust with the mothers and provide guidance on prenatal and maternal health and the social, emotional and physical development of their babies.
In Seattle, the nurses are hired through Public Health – Seattle & King County. The program has been in affect since 2000, but presently serves only mothers younger than 24 because of funding restrictions. The expansion would enable nurses to serve mothers of all ages who are eligible and want to participate, estimated to be about 450 women.
Councilmember Tim Burgess is sponsoring the expansion efforts. “I believe very much in early childhood intervention,” he says. “This program is absolutely proven to deliver the results … out 10 or 15 years, we see positive impacts.”
Specifically, long-term studies over 30 years have documented better prenatal health, fewer low birth-weight babies, fewer childhood injuries, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased maternal employment, better school readiness for the children and lower rates of crime for teens. Washington state evaluations report $2.38 saved (in social program, criminal justice and school spending) for every dollar spent on Nurse Family Partnership.
If you wish to contact any Seattle city councilmember about your support for this outstanding program, e-mail council@seattle.gov immediately!
Here’s a suggested message.
I commend the Seattle City Council for proposing a bold and meaningful expansion of the highly effective Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP). I urge the City Council to vote for that expansion so that ALL first-time moms living in poverty in Seattle could benefit from this program. Studies have proven that NFP improves the health of pregnant moms, increases each child’s readiness for school, and reduces crime. Please demonstrate your leadership by fully funding NFP in Seattle. Thank you!
For more information on the program, visit www.nursefamilypartnership.org.
