EAST STROUDSBURG - The Nurse-Family Partnership is a national, research-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income children and families in the communities where they live.  The program started in Monroe County in 2002, and since then has changed the lives of new mothers at risk and improved future prospects for their newborn babies. 

Currently, the Nurse-Family Partnership supports 112 families enrolled in Monroe and Pike Counties.  Statistics show the vast impact this program has on the participants as well as the communities in which they live.  Since the implementation of this program, the workforce participation in Pike and Monroe has been consistently higher than both the state and national rates, and program participants are below the state and national rates for low birth weight and premature birth.  Through the program’s education and support services, the region has also experienced a significant decrease in the number of women who smoke during pregnancy, and a large number of women in the program have graduated high school and continued to pursue higher education.

Virginia Sosnowski, Nurse-Family Partnership Manager with Pocono Medical Center passionately believes in this program and knows it has made a difference.   “The Nurse-Family Partnership Program (NFP) is a voluntary, home-based education program for first-time, income eligible mothers of any age,” she says.  “The program creates powerful results in the lives of women, children, and their families.”

The program recently received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in the amount of $424,234 to continue providing the vital services to the women and their young children.  Through this program, registered nurses with special training in prenatal and infant care as well as psycho-social development, visit mothers early in their pregnancy and continue until the child is two-years-old.  Life skills such as cooking, conflict resolution, fiscal responsibility, and other essentials are introduced through individual instruction and group activities. 

Kathy Kuck, interim President/CEO of PMC is pleased to accept this grant. “This grant allows our wonderful team of nurses and staff to continue to deliver long term improvements in the lives of the families,” she says. “I’m glad that we are able to offer this service to our community.”

The Nurse Family Partnership is located at The Learning Institute of PMC in Stroudsburg, PA.  Members of the community can learn more about the organization and its programs and services by visiting www.poconohealthsystem.org or by calling (570) 426-1688.