Nurse Family Partnership

The Nurse Family Partnershipis a collaborative, nationally recognized program between LCFS, Temple Health Connection, Temple University Department of Nursing and Eleventh Street Family Health Services of Drexel University. Our NFP is the largest in Pennsylvania and has been serving the neighborhoods of North, Northwest, South, Southwest, West and Lower Northeast Philadelphia for over a decade.  Through regularly scheduled home visits, nurses offer high-risk adolescents and adult women assistance during their first pregnancy and until their child is two years old.  The program goals are to improve pregnancy outcomes and child development, and also to improve families’ economic self-sufficiency. Consistent program findings are improved prenatal health, fewer childhood injuries, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased intervals between births, increased maternal employment, improved school readiness, and less involvement with the juvenile and adult justice systems.

Our staff consists of sixteen Public Health Nurse Home Visitors that provide services to 400 mothers at any one time and follow for up to 30 months. Program services are funded through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare: Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).  60% of our mothers are age 19 and younger, and the average age of participants are between 17 and 18 years old. 

For information, please contact Mary Beth Haas at 215-424-3741, ext. 216.

Significant Program Results

• 19% reduction in smoking during pregnancy

• 63% reduction in marijuana use

• 62% reduction in experience of domestic violence during pregnancy

• NFP mothers returned to the workforce earlier than national counterparts (46%) and worked an average of 6.3 months during the first post-partum year. 59% were employed during the second post-partum year.

• 92% of two year olds fully immunized

• Of the mothers who entered the program without a high school diploma or GED, 57% were still in school pursuing diploma/GED; 39% completed diploma/GED.

• 26.2% were continuing education beyond high school level