CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A home visiting program serving low-income mothers in Mecklenburg County received recognition at the national level.
- The Nurse-Family Partnership at Care Ring in Charlotte won the Tenacious Caregiver Award for Network Partner from the NFP’s National Service Office in September.
- The program pairs first-time moms with a free personal nurse who visits their home at least 60 times during a two and a half year period.
- Since Care Ring started the NFP program in Mecklenburg County in 2009, it has served more than 1,100 families.
The Nurse-Family Partnership at Care Ring in Charlotte won the Tenacious Caregiver Award for Network Partner from the NFP’s National Service Office in September. It received recognition for having high nurse retention, high client retention, and excellent graduation rates.
The program pairs first-time moms with a free personal nurse who visits their home at least 60 times during a two and a half year period. The nurses help mothers from pregnancy through the second birthday of their child.
Since Care Ring started the NFP program in Mecklenburg County in 2009, it has served more than 1,100 families.
Maria Sanders, who recently graduated from the NFP program, said she’s grateful for the support nurse Amber Williams offered her and her baby.
“[Rotimi Adeosun-Sanders] is my first child and the fact that his dad is in Nigeria. My mom has a lot of responsibilities. I’m by myself,” Sanders said.
Sanders said Williams talked to her about symptoms and self-care during pregnancy. In addition, Williams talked to Sanders about parenting and ways to keep Rotimi healthy.
For example, Rotimi had lost weight after being born so Williams guided her on how to increase his weight.
“If I didn’t have this program, to be honest with you, I really do feel I would’ve been lost,” Sanders said.
Care Ring Executive Director Don Jonas, Ph.D. said the program brings positive outcomes for mothers and children.
“It’s much more likely that you are going to have a healthy baby, if you’ve had this intervention from a nurse before the baby is born. Mom is going to have a greater likelihood to break the chains of poverty, while that is getting her GED, finishing high school or getting into the workforce,” Jonas said.
Williams is proud of Maria and Rotimi's milestones.
“We had a lot of time together before he even got here and get to see him grow, and all that they have both achieved in the past two and a half years is really inspiring,” Williams said.
The NFP at Care Ring, which is funded through Mecklenburg County taxes and private donations, serves 300 families at any given time.
The program in Charlotte is one of more than 600 Nurse-Family Partnership programs nationwide.