Expectant Mothers
Pregnancy is the ideal time to reach and educate mothers with early childhood messages since they have the intrinsic motivation to do what is best for their unborn child and they have a purpose larger than themselves, e.g. their child’s health and well-being. At this stage, you are attempting to promote generational change and break the cycle of the effects of poverty.
Two for one – Treat a pregnant woman and both she and her child win
Research shows that women with periodontal disease are 3 to 5x more likely to have an underweight pre-term baby. As a result of the Bright Smiles for Bright Futures program that treated pregnant moms so they would have healthier and cleaner gums, the clinic had fewer low-birth-weight babies and preterm births.
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From Program Approach
Voluntary enrollment of first-time, low-income mothers: optimal time to promote positive behaviors From Program Overview
Nurse-Family Partnership is a relationship-based program that partners highly-trained professional nurses with vulnerable first-time mothers and their babies. The program transforms lives through improved pregnancy outcomes, promotion of child health and development, and the encouragement of economic self-sufficiency for families. Invest in Kids selected Nurse-Family Partnership as our first program because of its life-changing impact for mothers and babies, demonstrated through long-term, rigorous scientific research. |