The Nurse-Family Partnership program is open
to first-time mothers of any age who are less
than 29 weeks pregnant, are residents of
McLennan County, and live below 185 percent
of the poverty level. If women qualify for WIC or
Medicaid, they generally qualify for the program.
T H E N F P H A S T H R E E I M M E D I AT E G O A L S :
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1 to improve pregnancy outcomes
2 to improve the health of the child
3 to improve the financial security of the family
THE CATALYST Spring 17 | sw.org
coordinator for the program at the
hospital. “Achieving these goals helps
to strengthen the family unit, can help
children perform better in school, and
can decrease the likelihood that they’ll
continue the cycle of poverty.” She says
that clients in the program are eager
to learn from the nurses. “They want
to be the best mom they can be,” says
Ms. Meyer.
“We’re there as life coaches,”
Mrs. Ellis says. “It’s not about what
Nurse-Family Partnership wants for
their family, or the goals our team at
Hillcrest has set, but rather what the
women want for themselves.”
Teamwork, and
a successful program
The program has six full-time nurses
who each work with up to 25 pregnant
women. Some women are married,
some are single, some are homeless.
Ms. Meyer says. “They’re all unique
individuals. The one thing they have in
common is they’re first-time moms.”
Melonnie Pollard, director of
Women’s and Children’s Services for
Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest,
praises the team, which has achieved
a client retention rate higher than
national levels. “The team that we
have assembled could not be more
professional, sympathetic, and caring,”
she says. Mrs. Ellis adds, “I can’t rave
enough about my nurses. If there’s
something new to learn, they’re
learning it.”
Mrs. Ellis says the relationship
that forms between a nurse and a